Simms Fire Update
Sunday May 22, 2022 – 9:00am
Rocky Mountain Type 1 Incident Management Team
Dan Dallas, Incident Commander
Special Note: On the second day under the command of the Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team One the Simms fire has moved to 75% contained. Last night at 6:00pm, a community meeting was held at the Montrose County Event Center attended by community members, cooperators, and local officials.
Current Situation:
The Simms fire is broken into two geographic areas called Divisions to help focus suppression efforts and help with supervisory span of control.
Division A is located on the west side of the fire, where firefighters will continue to secure the fireline. By picking up where heavy equipment left off yesterday, firefighters will work towards finishing handlines into Wildcat Canyon.
Division Z is located on the east side of the fire, where firefighters will continue to secure the fireline by mopping up any hotspots near containment lines and work into Wildcat Canyon. They are taking particular care to identify potential spot fires that could be a threat, especially as fuels dry out. Firefighters continue to take special care mopping up and securing structures in the area.
Safety: Firefighter and public safety remain the top priorities on this incident, with special emphasis on mental health and preparing for an extended fire season. Evacuation on Government Springs Road have been lifted and the road is open to through traffic. Leading into the fire area, Wildcat Canyon and T & M Roads continue to be closed, and firefighters request that the public avoid the affected area out of respect for community and firefighter safety.
Weather & Fuel Conditions: The snow from late last week was effective at wetting fuels in the area, however, with gusty southwest winds from 15-20 miles per hour and increasing temperatures, firefighters will be keeping an eye on heavy burning fuels. Nearby residents, and others close to the fire area, will see smoke and smoldering from remaining burned trees on the ground and even small flames at times. Firefighters evaluate those instances by determining if the smoldering fuel is a threat to crossing the firelines built on the fire perimeter and getting into unburned areas. Temperatures remain normal to below normal for this time of year with a high near 70 degrees and relative humidity around 20 percent.
Evacuations and Fire Restrictions: T&M Road and Wildcat Canyon Road will be open to residents but are still closed to the public. There are no evacuation orders in place currently. For more information contact, https://ouraycountyco.gov/272/Emergency-Management.
Simms Fire Statistics:
Size: 373 acres
Containment: 75%
Total Personnel: Approximately 150
Location: 15 miles southwest of Montrose
Reported: May 19, 2022
Cause: Under investigation
For More Information:
Phone: 970-765-7309
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
