| Contacts: | Chris Barth, Public Information Officer | |||
| Montrose Interagency Fire Management Unit | ||||
| Phone: 970.240.5317 (o) | ||||
| 970.596.0430 (c) |
Weekend Wildfires in Gunnison County Determined to be Human-Caused
Gunnison, Colo. – Fire investigators have determined that all four wildfires in Gunnison County that occurred over the weekend were human-caused. Each of the fires was the result of either ditch burns or slash pile burns that became out of control. All of the wildfires, with the exception of the Little Henderson Fire, are 100% contained at this time. Those fires will be patrolled and monitored throughout the day to make sure there are no remaining hot spots.
The Little Henderson Fire is located approximately seven miles north of Hwy 133 on Gunnison County Road 265. The fire remains at 50-60 acres and 0% containment as of this morning. There are no structures threatened, and despite some smoke in the area, there is little fire activity reported this morning. One (1) type 4 engine from Montrose Interagency Fire Management Unit (MIFMU), a type 2 hand crew, and several local fire department resources are on scene today. Crews plan to take advantage of current fire conditions to work on containment of the fire today.
Fire Stats:
Little Henderson Fire: 50-60 acres, 0% containment, no structures threatened, human-caused fire
MM 125 Fire: 125 acres, 100% containment, human-caused fire
Brush Creek Fire: 31 acres, 100% containment, human-caused fire
Ohio Creek Fire: 69 acres, 100% containment, human-caused fire
Due to current wildfire conditions and an increase in fire activity in the region, residents are encouraged to be cautious with all flammable materials and agricultural burns. For information on fire restrictions throughout Colorado visit www.cofireban.info.
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.
650 S. 11th Street Gunnison, CO 81230