| Contacts: | David Boyd, Fire Information Officer, 970 319-4130 | |||
| Kim Miller, Fire Information Officer, 970-309-0348 |
Water Creek Fire grows to 150 acres; regional fire danger increasing (06-19-10)
RIFLE, Colo. – About 50 firefighters worked the lightning-caused, 150-acre Water Creek Fire today 10 miles northwest of Rifle in a remote area on top of the Roan Plateau. No structures are threatened.
The fire was reported this morning and burned actively throughout the day because of strong winds and dry conditions. Fire officials expect the fire will continue to be active and grow over the next few days. It is burning in heavy timber.
Firefighters are carefully managing the fire with firefighter safety as the highest priority. Firefighters are allowing some acres to burn, while suppressing it at roads and strategic natural barriers.
A number of aircraft worked the fire today, including a light helicopter, a heavy helicopter, a single engine air tanker, a heavy air tanker and two support airplanes. Four engines are on-scene, and additional crews have been ordered.
The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for western Colorado tomorrow, which indicates the risk of fire spread is high.
Because of the high fire potential throughout the Upper Colorado River area, fire officials with the Upper Colorado River Fire Management Unit are urging the public to be extremely careful with fire. The Water Creek Fire is actively burning at about 9,000 feet elevation, clearly indicating that fire danger is not limited to low elevations. In particular, ensure that all campfires are completely extinguished before leaving camp.
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