Print Page

News

Firefighters Plan Prescribed Burn in Early October - Palisade Watershed

NEWS RELEASE
Sept 27, 2013

Contact: David Boyd, BLM Public Information Officer, (970) 876-9008
Chris Joyner, BLM Public Information Officer, (970) 244-3097

Firefighters Plan Fall Prescribed Burns

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — Federal fire officials from the Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Unit are planning three prescribed burns in October. The burns could start as early as Oct. 1 but will depend on weather and vegetation conditions.

The Bureau of Land Management and Town of Palisade plan to burn 200 acres of oak brush and mountain shrubs in the Palisade Watershed about seven miles southeast of Palisade. Smoke will be visible from throughout the Grand Valley, including I-70, Palisade and Grand Junction. This one-day burn will complement the approximately 400 acres burned in the spring to improve environmental conditions within the watershed through a cooperative agreement between BLM and the Town of Palisade.

“The 2009 Palisade Watershed Fire Mitigation Plan identifies this area as needing treatment to reduce the chance of a large, intense wildfire that could severely impact the watershed,” said Frank Watt, Public Works Director for the Town of Palisade. “The burn completed in April was very successful. We are hoping weather and fuel conditions give us a window to get more accomplished this fall.”

Firefighters also hope to burn about 360 acres of aspen this fall on BLM lands on the Roan Plateau, nine miles northwest of Rifle. Firefighters are conducting this burn to stimulate resprouting of aspen suffering from Sudden Aspen Decline. They expect this burn will take up to two days. The burn will take place north of the East Fork of Parachute Creek and south of the Ben Good Creek headwaters.

The Blanco Ranger District of the White River National Forest plans to conduct a 850- to 1500-acre burn in the Aldrich Lakes area approximately 19 miles northeast of Meeker, Colo. Officials anticipate that this burn may take up to four days to accomplish. This work is a continuation of collaborative efforts by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and Natural Resource Conservation Service.

“We will only ignite these prescribed fires if conditions are ideal for a safe, effective burn, as well as for good smoke dispersal away from area communities,” said Lathan Johnson, acting UCR assistant fire management officer.

These burns will decrease the amount of vegetation that has accumulated in these areas, which haven’t seen fire in a number of years. This will help reduce the risk of larger wildfires as well as improve wildlife habitat by stimulating new, more nutritious plant production in the burned area.
Fire managers have developed a detailed prescribed fire plan and obtained smoke permits from the State of Colorado for each of the planned burns.
“We will do what we can to avoid burning during hunting seasons, but the window for ideal conditions for safe, effective burns can be very narrow, particularly in the fall,” Johnson said. “Most hunters will appreciate the overall benefit to wildlife and wildlife habitat from these burns, and we ask for patience regarding any short-term, localized impacts to hunters this year.”

For more information about these planned prescribed fires, contact Lathan Johnson, (970) 257-4823.

###

Parachute Branch Library Announces Upcoming Events

The Garfield County Library in Parachute has announced 4 upcoming events that may interest you. 

  • Reel Readers, Friday, September 20, 2013
  • Basic Canning, Saturday, September 21, 2013
  • Jill Cohn in Concert, Tuesday, September 24, 2013
  • WII For All, Monday, September 30, 2013
  • Fall Back into eReading, Thursday, October 3, 2013
  • Costume Swap, Saturday, October 5, 2013
  • Computer & Mouse Skills 101, Wednesday, October 9 & 23rd

Check them our HERE.

Introduction to Community Evacuation and Re-entry Planning Talk, August 22, 2013, 6:30 p.m., Grand Valley Fire, Station #1

The Grand Valley Fire Department will present an "Introduction to Community Evacuation and Re-entry Planning Talk," August 22, 2013, 6:30 p.m. at GVFPD's Station #1, 124 Stone Quarry Road, Battlement Mesa, Colorado.  The public is encouraged to attend.  This presentation / discussion will explore emergency evacuation issues for the Battlement Mesa and Parachute community.  Bring your ideas and concerns.  Wildland fires and other emergencies are real in Western Colorado.  Let's be prepared!

Red Canyon Fire Update - 100% Contained; 390 Acres

Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team A
August 16, 2013 (Evening Update)
For Immediate Release
Bill Kight, Information Officer 720-219-4499
Clark McCreedy, Information Officer, 720-219-4502

Red Canyon Fire Update
8:00 PM, August 16, 2013

At end of shift today, fire operations staff reported 100% containment for the Red Canyon Fire, located approximately 3 miles south – southeast of Glenwood Springs, Colorado.  Acreage  encompassed by the fire remains at 390 acres.  Pre-evacuation and evacuation orders were lifted at 9:00 AM today.  Due to fire related traffic, the Lookout Mountain Road will be open only to residents along the road.

At 6:00 AM tomorrow, August 17, the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team A will transfer management of the Red Canyon Fire to a local Type III fire organization.  Operations on the fire will continue with the objective of locating hotspots and rehabilitation of firelines.  To ensure public and fire-fighter safety, County Road 115 remains closed from Highway 82 to County Road 119.

Resources on the Red Canyon Fire tomorrow will include two 20 person handcrews, four engines, and two water tenders to provide water for the engines.  With the containment of the fire, aircraft have been reassigned to other incidents.  An air attack reconnaissance plane will be available as needed.

Two minor injuries were reported on the fire today.  One individual received a cut that required stiches; another fire-fighter was treated for heat exhaustion and subsequently returned to the fireline.

This will be the last update provided by the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team A.  Fire information phone lines will be discontinued at 9:00 PM this evening.  The entire team wishes to express our gratitude to the communities of Carbondale and Glenwood Springs for the many expressions of appreciation offered the team.  We wish to extend our thanks to our many cooperators, local fire staffs, law enforcement, the Roaring Fork School District, and agency representatives that provided support to the team during the Red Canyon Fire. 

 

 

 

Red Canyon Fire Update - 390 Acres, 27% Contained

Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team A

August 14, 2013 (Evening Update)
For Immediate Release
Bill Kight, Information Officer 720-219-4499
Clark McCreedy, Information Officer, 720-219-4502

Red Canyon Fire Update
8:00 PM, August 14, 2013

Fire operations staff reported no fire growth today on the Red Canyon Fire, located approximately 3 miles south – southeast of Glenwood Springs, Colorado.  The fire is now estimated to be 27% contained.  The fire now encompasses approximately 390 acres.  This change in acreage is due to the use of thermal imagery to acquire more accurate mapping of the heat signature of the fire.  Though the fire did experience winds associated with a passing thunder cell today, substantial cloud cover throughout the day helped to moderate fire behavior.

Today’s operations continued to emphasize aggressive suppression of the fire.  Air resources on the fire today included the use of two large air tankers, two single engine air tankers (SEATS) and one light Type III helicopter and a larger Type II helicopter.  Gusty winds associated with an afternoon thunder cell required that the use of the heavy and single engine air tankers be discontinued to ensure crew safety.

This evening, a night shift consisting of two fire engines and a division supervisor will patrol and monitor the fire throughout the night. 

Tomorrow, air operations will continue the use of the two single engine air tankers (SEATS), one light Type III helicopter, and a larger Type II helicopter.  Firefighters will continue to extend and reinforce fire lines for operations tomorrow.  They will use five engines and two twenty person hand crews along the south-southwest flank of the fire; three engines, one hand crew, and one bulldozer on the north-northwest flank of the fire; and, two hand crews and one engine along the eastern flank of the fire.  A structure protection group consisting of two additional engines will emphasize mitigation of the area of the communication towers on Lookout Mountain.

Additional information is available at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/, the Red Canyon Fire Information Blog at http://www.redcanyonfire.blogspot.com/.  the Rocky Mountain Team A twitter feed @RM_InciTeamA, or at the Garfield County website at www.garfield-county.com.  All media should report to or direct enquiries to Red Canyon Fire Information located within the Carbondale and Rural Fire Protection District Station, 300 Meadowood Drive, Carbondale, CO.  Contacts are listed above. 

 

Red Canyon Fire, Press Release, Garfield County Sheriff's Office

NEWS RELEASE                                                 

For Immediate Release

8/12/13
5:15 PM

Red Canyon Fire

GARFIELD COUNTY, Colo. – At about 1:00 PM a fire erupted just off County Road 115 about 2.5 miles from Highway 82. The fire expanded to about five acres by 3:00 PM. A SEAT was ordered from Craig.

The SEAT arrived at 5:03 PM and dumped its first load. Further air strikes will come from the Rifle Airport. At this point County Road 115 is closed frp Highway 82 to County Road 119. The resident occupants in the area are being warned that an evacuation may be necessary, but no evacuations have been ordered at this time.

More information will be released as it becomes available.

Walt Stowe
Garfield County Sheriff's Office
Community Relations Deputy/PIO
106 County Road 333-A
Rifle, CO 81650
office: 970-665-0207
cell: 970-309-9697
wstowe@garcosheriff.com

 

 

 

National Night Out, Today, Don't Miss It!

The Garfield County Sheriff's Office, the Battlement Mesa Service Association and the Grand Valley Recreation Center invites you to National Night Out in Battlement Mesa, today, Tuesday, August 6th.  The event kicks off at 2 PM at the Grand Valley Recreation Center where you can enjoy the cool refreshing water of an indoor pool from 2 PM until 4 PM and take a personal tour of the center.  At 4 PM the fun moves to the Battlement Mesa Town Plaza where you can enjoy free hamburgers and hot dogs between 4 PM and 7 PM.  In addition to free food, courtesy of the Garfield County Sheriff's Office, you can enjoy a variety of additional activities including:

  • Children's Bump and Jump
  • Grand Valley Fire's Climbing Wall
  • St. Mary’s Care Flight Chopper – will fly in and will be on display
  • St. Mary’s Blood Mobile
  • Face Painting
  • Static Display of Remote Control Aircraft
  • Classic Cars, Trucks, Motorcycles
  • KSUN Community Radio (101.1) live broadcast
  • $425 in Cash and Gift Card Drawings (Register at the KSUN booth)
  • Lot’s of Club and Organization Information Booths
  • BMSA’s Educational Theater – 4 PM to 7 PM
  • Police, Fire, County, and Federal Equipment and Vehicles on Display and much more

Today's National Night Out for Battlement Mesa, Parachute and nearby residents is part of the nationwide 30 year tradition of National Night Out celebrations that focus on building community relationships to reduce neighborhood crime, encourage a healthy anti-drug life style and foster better police-community relations.

Join your friends and neighbors for this fun, informative and social event! 

National Night Out - Battlement Town Plaza - August 6th, 4 to 7 PM. Don't Miss It!

Garfield County Sheriff’s Office and the BMSA are organizing Local National Night Out Event  

GARFIELD COUNTY, Colo. –   ...More Information HERE

Battlement Mesa, CO. On Tuesday, August 6th, the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office will join thousands of communities nationwide for the 30th Annual National Night Out neighborhood crime and drug prevention gathering. The Sheriff’s Office, along with the Grand Valley Activity Center, and the Battlement Mesa Service Association and in cooperation with the Battlement Mesa Company will be sponsoring a community event in the Battlement Mesa Shopping Plaza at 71 Sipprelle Drive from 2:00 PM until 7:00 PM.  All area residents in, around or near the communities of Battlement Mesa and Parachute are welcome and encouraged to attend. 

The event will start at the Grand Valley Activity Center where people can enjoy the cool refreshing water of an indoor pool from 2:00 PM until 4:00 PM courtesy of the Activity Center. Take a personal tour of the Center and see all the member benefits that are available year round.

Next come down the hill to the Shopping Plaza where you can enjoy free hamburgers and hot dogs from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM. Tour the various booths sponsored by Youth Zone, C.A.R.E., Rifle MOMS, the Parachute Library, Crime Stoppers and a host of others. There will be free give-a-ways, face painting and more.

Get up close and personal with the Green Machine, a Fire Engine, an ambulance, the Bear Cat. See vintage cars and come to the Educational pavilion where you can hear and participate in short presentations about animal safety, Search and Rescue Programs, dog bite prevention, the Drug Free World Foundation, a K-9 demonstration and more. I have also heard tell that McGruff, the Crime Dog, is expected to make an appearance. This is a family event you won’t want to miss!

The Grand Valley Fire Protection District will have their climbing wall set up and their Brush truck. CDOT is bringing their new sate of the art truck for dealing with hazards in the Glenwood Tunnel and the Parachute Police Department will be represented as well. Take this opportunity to speak with officers and first responders about what they do and why they do it. Learn how you can make your home and your community a safer place to live.

National Night Out is designed to:

  • Bring neighbors and businesses together to create a friendly exchange
  • Increase public awareness of crime and drug prevention.
  • To develop understanding and support for our local education and prevention programs.
  • Strengthen neighborhood Spirit and foster better police-community relations.
  • Send a clear message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.
  • Come join us for this fun, informative and social event that started with 400 communities and has grown to over 15,000 communities across the country celebrating National Night Out, doing their part to make their communities safe.

The mission of the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office is to provide solutions for the people by utilizing and employing strong morals, good character, untarnished integrity, technical knowledge and fiscal responsibility through professional, ethical and equitable conduct.

# # #

 

 

GarCo and BLM Colorado River Valley Fire Restrictions to be lifted

 

July 29, 2013

Contact: David Boyd, Public Information Officer, 970 876-9008

Walt Stowe, Garfield County Sheriff’s Office, 970 665-0207

Fire restrictions to be lifted Wednesday for Garfield County

and BLM Colorado River Valley Field Office

SILT, Colo. – Stage 1 fire restrictions will be lifted effective Wednesday, July 31, for private lands within Garfield County and Bureau of Land Management lands managed by the Colorado River Valley Field Office. The BLM Grand Junction Field Office and Mesa County are also lifting fire restrictions effective Wednesday.

In addition to private lands in Garfield and Mesa counties, all BLM lands in Eagle, Garfield, Mesa, Pitkin and Routt counties will be out of fire restrictions on Wednesday. Fire conditions vary by elevation and area, and the White River National Forest, Eagle County and Pitkin County did not enact stage 1 fire restrictions this year. Routt County lifted their restrictions last week.

Fire managers base decisions about fire restrictions on specific moisture measurements in vegetation and other risk factors. Recent moisture in much of northwestern Colorado has significantly lowered the fire danger, but land managers still urge the public to remain vigilant with fire.

"Lower fire danger does not mean no fire danger," said Steve Bennett, field manager for the BLM Colorado River Valley Field Office.

Fireworks are always prohibited on BLM, National Forest and National Park Service lands.

For more information about fire restrictions in these areas, log on to

http://gacc.nifc.gov/rmcc/dispatch_centers/r2gjc/ or call the Colorado River Valley Field Office at (970) 876-9000.

###

BMMD Reports a 12" Water Main Break

For Immmediate Release~July 5, 2013 ~ Battlement Mesa Metro District

There was a 12” water main break early this morning.  The "main" services the fire hydrants on Morrisania Mesa.  Although the break has been isolated, there is no water to the fire hydrants on Morrisania Mesa.  The fire department has been notified.  By the time the break was isolated, BMMD's Zone B tank was down to 3 feet of water.  BMC, BMSA, GVRC and BMMD have shut their sprinkler systems off for the weekend.  Steve Rippy, BMMD's Manager stated, "We are going to be going door to door with fliers asking people to try to use minimal water through out the weekend.  Since the break has been isolated and no homes are without water, we will begin repairs on Monday.  The water did not run down the road, it went down the gulch to the John Lyons property." 

###

Contact: BMMD, 970.285.9050

Pages

Subscribe to News