Several new wildfires have started across the region and Western Colorado today due to extreme fire weather conditions with dry fuels, temperatures over 100 degrees and gusty winds from the southwest. These conditions combined with drought conditions have fueled the rapid growth of several wildfires in the area. Please do NOT call dispatch for updates on the wildfires or to report smoke.
Only call 9-1-1 to report emergencies such as new wildfire starts and other emergencies requiring law enforcement, ambulance and/or fire services. Please follow social media and websites listed below in this post for updates on the wildfires.
Information about active wildfires will be posted to WestSlopeFireInfo.com and the Delta County Emergency Management Facebook page.
For information on the fire at the Black Canyon National Park, please follow the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Montrose County Sheriff’s Office‘s Facebook pages and WestSlopeFireInfo.com
Boyce Fire – West of Delta – Uncompahgre Plateau
The Boyce Fire started in Mesa County on Thursday, July 10th and is burning NE and has burned into Delta and Montrose Counties. The fire experienced very active fire growth Thursday afternoon and is currently burning along Tatum ridge above Escalante Canyon Road in the SW corner of Delta County. Fire Crews with the Bureau of Land Management have arrived on scene and are doing a size up on the fire.
The Bureau of Land Management has requested residents down Escalante Canyon, especially those past the ‘Pot Holes’ recreation area in Montrose and Mesa Counties to be on Pre-Evacuation Notice for this fire and be ready to leave. The Delta County Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Management encourage any campers in the area to leave the area and camp closer to Hwy 50 so you can leave if the fire continues advancing to the east and drops into Escalante Canyon.
Delta County is coordinating with Mesa and Montrose Counties as this is the junction of all three counties to provide alerting to residents and campers in the area. Delta County Deputies are doing notifications to campers in the area of Escalante Canyon and a Delta County Alert is being issued in the area as well.
Due to the narrow canyon and limited evacuation routes, the Sheriff’s Office is recommending any existing campers leave the canyon area for campsites closer to the highway and no new camping occur in the canyon due to the wildfire. Please avoid the area of Escalante Canyon for safety due to the hot, dry conditions and rapid growth of this fire.
We will post more information on Friday as it becomes available.
Air Quality:
Heavy smoke will be in the air for several days and will settle at night. Residents with respiratory issues should take precautions to add filters to swamp coolers/air conditioners and keep windows closed if possible.
Resources for wildfire smoke and health concerns can be found at: https://cdphe.colorado.gov/outd…/wildfire-smoke-and-health
