Simms Fire Update
Monday, May 30, 2022 – 9:00am
Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests Type 3 Incident Management Team
Cody Russell, Incident Commander
Current Situation:
The Simms Fire acreage is currently 313 acres with 100% containment. Storms in the area brought erratic winds, but the fire area did receive some unexpected precipitation on Sunday. Even though the rain was not a “wetting” rain, it did raise relative humidity levels and will make light, flashy fuels less susceptible to burning over the next few days.
Suppression repair continued on the southern perimeter of the fire. Firefighters have completed suppression repair work on half of the fire perimeter. Crews will continue re-seeding the burn area as dozer lines are repaired by the excavator. Crews finished hand piling cut brush and timber for landowners who had been affected by the fire. Fire crews report seeing wildlife moving back into the fire area. Sightings include the Clark’s Nutcracker. This bird is beneficial for the burned landscape as it will find pine nuts and bury them. Any nuts the bird does not recover will sprout into new growth.
Due to favorable weather conditions and the condition of the burn area, the Type 3 Incident Management will be transitioning management of the fire to Type 4 local resources on Tuesday.
Safety: Careful consideration for public and firefighter safety remains the top priority on this incident. There are no formal road closures, but firefighters request that the public avoid the fire affected area out of respect for community and firefighter safety.
Weather & Fuel Conditions: Sunday’s incoming cold front has brought cooler temperatures and higher humidity levels to the fire area. Gusty winds will continue and will range between 25-30 mph. Today’s temperatures will be in the low to mid 50’s. Relative humidity will range from 18-23%. Tuesday is expected to bring warmer temperatures and drier air.
Evacuations and Fire Restrictions: There are no evacuation orders in place. For more information contact https://ouraycountyco.gov/272/Emergency-Management.
Simms Fire Statistics:
Size: 313 acres
Containment: 100%
Total Personnel: Approximately 68
Location: 15 miles southwest of Montrose Reported: May 19, 2022
Cause: Under investigation For More Information:
Phone: 970-765-7176
Email: 2022.simms@firenet.gov
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GMUGFireInfo Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8117/
West Slope Fire Information: www.WestSlopeFireInfo.com
