| Contacts: | Laura McConnell, Public Information Officer | |||
| Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team B | ||||
| NEW PHONE: 1-970-327-0252 |
Beaver Fire Update (05-27-10)
Norwood, Colo. – Fire crews continued to make significant progress on the Beaver Fire. The anticipated increase in wind did not materialize on Wednesday; however fire officials are expecting warmer, dryer conditions to continue today along with an increase in winds.
There is a Red Flag Warning for the area from 11 am to 9 pm due to the high temperatures, low relative humidity and dry fuels. A Red Flag Warning indicates that the potential for large fire growth exists in the area. Fire Behavior Analyst Rod Moraga said, “the Red Flag Warning is not likely to affect the Beaver Fire perimeter, but conditions could possibly lead to new fire activity in the area.”
Crews will continue to construct the remaining fireline and monitor areas of fire within the fire perimeter today. A Burned Area Emergency Rehabilitation (BAER) Team, which was requested by the local agencies, has arrived and will begin assessing rehabilitation to the fire area.
If you own a home in a fire-prone area, you should take a few simple steps to make your property more defensible. It will increase your safety and that of firefighters, too. What you do before and during fire season may make the difference whether your home survives in the event of a wildfire in your area.
No structures have been damaged or are currently threatened. There have been no injuries associated with the fire. Hwy 145 remains open, however travelers are asked to use caution due to ongoing fire operations along the river corridor.
Beaver Fire Statistics at a Glance:
Time/Date Started: May 22, 2010 approximately 3:00 p.m.
Location: Norwood, Colorado
Cause: Downed Power Line
Estimated Cost: $925,885
Fuels: Pinyon –Juniper, mixed conifer, grass-sage
Size: 2,610 acres (2,188 – USFS, 422 – BLM)
Containment: 60%
Resources Committed:
4 type one crews, 1 type two crews, 1 type one helicopter, 1 type three helicopter, 13 engines, 1 dozers, 2 water tenders, 266 personnel.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs. The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends. In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
2815 H Road Grand Junction, CO 81506