Spruce Creek Fire | |
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![]() A member of the Roosevelt Interagency Hotshot Crew at the fire on May 19 | |
Date(s) |
|
Statistics | |
Perimeter | 100% contained |
Burned area | 5,699 acres (2,306 ha; 9 sq mi; 23 km2) |
Impacts | |
Deaths | 0 |
Non-fatal injuries | 0 |
Ignition | |
Cause | Lightning |
The Spruce Creek Fire was a wildfire that burned in Montezuma County, in the U.S. State of Colorado. It was active from May 14-31, 2024, and was considered 100% contained. It was the first fire of the 2024 Colorado wildfire season, and is currently the 2nd-largest as of August 2.
The fire started on May 14, approximately 11 miles northeast of Dolores. [1] From then to May 22, the fire rapidly spread, reaching 1,644 and then1,867 acres in coverage by the late hours of May 22. [2] 172 personnel were assigned to the fire. [3] Firefighters secured northern and western fire perimeters, and protected historic sites threatened by the fire. By May 23, the fire had reached 4,672 acres, [4] and on May 24, the fire had rapidly grown to 5,699 acres, it's maximum size. [5] Firefighters shifted to containment of the fire on roads, and two aerial ignition teams were put into place to aid with the task. [6] [7]
On May 25, the fire was declared 43% contained, and the amount of personnel responding to the fire, dropped to 168. [8] A bulldozer was dispatched to repair roads damaged on covered as a result of the fire. [8] Fire activity began to slow down on May 26, and containment on the fires jumped to 63%. The bulldozer that was dispatched the day prior cleared roads in the Haycamp Mesa area. [9]
By May 27, the fire was 73% contained and fire crews patrolled the fire's outer perimeter, to contain it within its' footprint. [10] Firefighters were able to contain 83% of the fire by May 28, and the area was reopened to the public. [11] The fire was then transferred back into the hands of the San Juan National Forest services, and the fire was deemed 100% contained by May 31. [12]
Date | Area burned | Personnel | Containment | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
May 22 [3] | 1,867 acres (8 km2) | 172 | 0% | ||
May 24 [5] | 5,699 acres (23 km2) | 172 | 0% | ||
May 25 [8] | 5,699 acres (23 km2) | 168 | 43% | ||
May 26 [9] | 5,699 acres (23 km2) | 173 | 63% | ||
May 27 [10] | 5,699 acres (23 km2) | 167 | 73% | ||
May 28 [11] | 5,699 acres (23 km2) | 146 | 83% | ||
May 29 | 5,699 acres (23 km2) | Unknown | 83% | ||
May 30 | 5,699 acres (23 km2) | Unknown | 83% | ||
May 31 | 5,699 acres (23 km2) | Unknown | 100% |
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