| Contacts: | Laura McConnell, Public Information Officer | |||
| Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team A | ||||
| NEW PHONE: 1-970-327-0252 |
COMMUNITY MEETING TODAY
Norwood Town Hall at 6:30 p.m.
Incident Management Team members and local fire officials will give an update of the fire’s status.
Norwood, Colo. – Fire crews continued to make progress on the Beaver Fire as the fire transitions from a local Type III fire management organization to a Type II Incident Management Team. The need for a Type II team is based on a complexity analysis of the fire situation and the team can provide the resources and capabilities to address the fire’s unique challenges.
Monday’s cooler weather and lighter winds helped crews to continue securing fireline west of Hwy 145 and begin establishing fireline on both the north and south sides of the fire east of Hwy 145. Crews also began establishing a barrier between the fire and a 325kV powerline located east of the fire. Officials are concerned that if smoke gets to the powerline it could initiate additional fires caused by arcing of the lines.
Incident Commander Todd Pechota commented that “the local fire management organization has done an outstanding job on the fire given difficult conditions of both weather and terrain. We will continue to gain control of the perimeter while providing for firefighter and community safety.”
Today fire crews will focus efforts on removing snags along the San Miguel River and Hwy 145 to reduce hazards to both river users and motorist. Fire crews will also continue to build and improve fireline on the fire perimeter.
No structures have been damaged or are currently threatened. There have been no injuries to the public or firefighters.
Officials will hold a town meeting tonight at 6:30 pm at the Norwood Town Hall to discuss the current fire situation. Both the Incident Management Team and local officials will be present to address the community’s questions.
Beaver Fire Statistics at a Glance:
· Time/Date Started: May 22, 2008 approximately 3:00 p.m.
· Location: Norwood, Colorado
· Cause: Downed Power Line
· Estimated Cost: $400,000
· Fuels: Pinyon –Juniper, mixed conifer, grass-sage
· Size: 3,100 acres
· Containment: 25%
· Resources Committed:
4 type one crews, 1 type two crews, 1 light helicopter, 13 engines, 4 dozers, 6 watertenders, 236 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