Wildfire Burning Southwest of Lake City
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GUNNISON, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Southwest Colorado Fire and Aviation Management Unit is actively engaged on the Mill Gulch Fire, located in the Gunnison Field Office approximately 11 miles southwest of Lake City, Colorado. The lightning-caused wildfire was discovered on August 7, 2019 and is estimated to be 0.1 acres in size and currently smoldering in vegetation on the ground.
The fire is located in an area of heavily beetle-killed timber with limited access and steep terrain. Past precipitation and anticipated rainfall over the coming weekend is predicted to keep fire activity to a low intensity. Firefighters will remain in the area, and additional resources are available should conditions change.
“Public and firefighter safety is at the forefront of our decision-making process,” said Randy Chappell, Deputy Fire Management Officer for the Southwest Colorado Fire and Aviation Management Unit. “The remote location, lack of immediate values at risk, and observed fire behavior currently do not justify exposing firefighters to additional hazards. We will continue to re-evaluate weather conditions and fire behavior and take
action appropriately.”
For information on wildfires and restrictions in the area, call the Southwest Colorado Fire and Aviation Management Information line (970.240.1070), visit the Montrose Interagency Dispatch website (https://gacc.nifc.gov/rmcc/dispatch_centers/r2mtc/), or follow us on Twitter (https://twitter.com/SWD_Fire) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/BLMMontroseFireUnit).
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.