MONTROSE – Interagency resources out of the Montrose Interagency Fire Management Unit (MIFMU) continue to manage the Tabeguache Creek Fire that began by lightning on the afternoon of Aug. 29. The fire was flown Tuesday morning to assess conditions and map the perimeter more accurately. Subsequently, the fire size was adjusted from 1,260 acres to 935 acres. Fire activity Tuesday was low and firefighters were able to continue constructing fireline around portions of the perimeter. Approximately three-quarters of the fire perimeter has hand and/or dozer-constructed firelines around it.

The fire had an active burning period on Monday afternoon while a thunderstorm moved over the fire and through the area.

The fire is burning on national forest lands within the Uncompahgre National Forest, in portions of the Tabeguache Special Management Area north of Nucla, and is being managed for multiple objectives. Priorities include continuing to manage the fire away from private land (to the west of the fire) and to protect three structures on those lands through suppression. Other portions of the fire (on national forest lands) are being managed to reduce heavy woody vegetation and downed fuels and to improve wildlife habitat, in areas where fires would naturally occur to sustain the ecosystem.

The Western Slope was under a red flag warning on Monday for high winds and low relative humidity from noon to 9 p.m. Winds related to the previous red flag warning, were less than expected on the fire and allowed firefighters to manage the firelines to continue to protect private property. However, stronger winds in the evening sparked a few spot fires outside the firelines and firefighters were able to react to suppress them.

No red flag warning was effect for Tuesday; however the forecast calls for continued hot, dry weather with low relative humidity and light winds over the fire, with a potential for increased clouds by late afternoon.

Interagency resources currently assigned to the fire include 14 smokejumpers, three engines, two bulldozers and two “hot shot” crews comprised of 20-people each. One helicopter remains assigned to the fire. One additional hand crew has been ordered through the national system of dispatch for the fire. There is no estimate of containment or control.

Within the MIFMU zone, initial attack activities Monday occurred on at least 22 other small fires that were started by lightning. These fires were primarily on Bureau of Land Management lands and private property, with one fire located on Colorado Division of Wildlife lands within the MIFMU fire protection area. Another new start fire on the Gunnison National Forest is burning in rugged terrain and is being managed to “contain and confine.”