SITUATION REPORT 2007-2a - New Castle Fire - June 20, 2007 8:00 am
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Report Date: June 20, 2007
Event Type: Wildfire ( New Castle)
Situation: Due to a lightning strike on June 18, a wildfire started in the vicinity of the Town of New Castle (west of the Glenwood Springs in Garfield County). By 7am (June 20th), the fire had grown to approximately 1,100 acres. The fire fuel currently consists of Juniper pine and brush. No structures have been damaged.
The fire is being fought with approximately 200 hand crew personnel are on the ground, six aircraft, and three helicopters. Thus far, the fire has been contained approximately 18-20%. Two fire fighters have received minor injuries.
Voluntary evacuation has been ordered for approximately 60 homes in the area, with an additional 100 homes being placed on alert. A shelter has been established at the Coal Ridge High School along highway 6 in New Castle.
A Type II Incident Management Team will take Command of the incident at 5pm this evening.
Weather Report: Temperatures at the scene are expected to rise to the upper 80s / low 90s with moderate to high winds anticipated for this afternoon. There is a 5-10% chance of precipitation.
Agencies Involved: Aspen Fire District, Bureau of Land Management, Carbondale Fire District, Division of Emergency Management, Garfield County OEM, Garfield County Sheriff’s Office, Glenwood Springs Fire District, Red Cross, Rifle Fire District, Snow Mass Fire District, and State Forest Service.
Additional Assistance Requested: No State-level assistance is being requested at this time.
Misc. Info: On June 19, 2007, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the New Castle Fire. The authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of the state's eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating and controlling designated fires. Fire Management Assistance Grants are provided through the President's Disaster Relief Fund and made available by FEMA to assist in fighting fires that threaten to cause a major disaster. Eligible items can include expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; mobilization and demobilization activities; and tools, materials and supplies.
Other fires include: Whittaker Flats Fire (north of the city of Cameo and Grand Junction in Mesa County). The fire has burned approximately 1,500 acres and is 5% contained, no structures threatened. Cottonwood Creek Fire (east of Parachute in Garfield County). 10 acres burned, but is 100% contained, one structure was threatened.