This is a temporary page to provide the latest information about wildfires in Mesa County where Mesa County Sheriff's Office is involved. The most recent information will be at the top of the page with the oldest information at the bottom of the page. For information about evacuating pets and/or where you can go if you have to leave your home, please call 211 from a landline or 244-8400 from a cell phone.
For current fire updates on the Pine Ridge Fire, visit the following website: www.inciweb.org
For the latest evacuation information regarding the Pine Ridge Fire, click here *Note: As of 2 p.m. on June 30, 2012, the evacuation center at Palisade High School has closed. Anyone displaced who needs assistance, should cal the American Red Cross in Grand Junction at (970) 210-9742.
For health information related to the Pine Ridge Fire in Mesa County, visit: www.cohelp.us
Anyone interested in emergency notification in Mesa County can enroll a cell phone number with the Emergency Notification System to receive a call from dispatch when an emergency happens in your area.
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Firefighters halt Pine Ridge Fire on the banks of the Colorado-strengthen heel
Friday, June 29, 2012, 7:00 p.m.
Contact: Fire Information 970-456-3623 (cell)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Grand Junction, Colo. - Firefighters doubled their containment on the Pine Ridge Fire and halted its advance at the Colorado River. Containment now stands at 10%.
The fire’s growth was slowed significantly today; however, exact figures will not be available until after a crew conducts infrared analysis tonight. Three unoccupied tents and campers were destroyed when the fire crossed Mustang Ranch Thursday. Cost of the lost structures is unknown. The area is unsafe for owners of those structures to return at this time.
Crews built on overnight success by adding containment on the westernmost portion of the fire near its origin referred to as the fire’s heel. Firefighters hope to advance on the footholds created by their containment. Crews from Saskatchewan provided much needed fire retardant today from two air tankers and a spotter airplane owned by the Canadian government. A total of four air tankers provided support today.
A Type 1 Incident crew has arrived and will assume responsibility of fighting this blaze at 6:00 a.m. Saturday. The Rocky Mountain Type 1 Team will begin operations led by the former Incident Commander of the High Park Fire.
There are currently no new evacuations or pre-evacuation orders in place.
Fire information about the Pine Ridge Fire is available on www.inciweb.org.
For information about preparing for possible evacuations, log on to www.sheriff.mesacounty.us.
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As of 8:43 p.m. on June 27, 2012: The BLM issued the following news release...
June 27, 2012
Contact: Fire Information at 970 456-3623
Firefighters on-scene of Pine Ridge Fire above the Book Cliffs NE of Grand Junction
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Firefighters are currently on-scene of the lightning-caused Pine Ridge Fire 10 miles northeast of Grand Junction above the Book Cliffs.
The fire is currently estimated to be 500-700 acres and growing rapidly. Approximately seven structures are currently threatened. The fire is burning on BLM land and private property.
The area received multiple lightning strikes during the early morning hours today. Firefighters discovered this fire at 1:57 p.m.
Three helicopters, along with air tanker support provided by a Canadian crew, are aiding the 95 firefighters working the fire. The fire is burning in a remote area of Mesa County. Fire behavior is considered extreme with spotting ahead the fire. There is no current containment on this fire. Fire officials are currently evaluating the best strategy to manage this fire, which is burning in rugged, difficult-to-access terrain.
There are currently no evacuations or pre-evacuation orders in place. The Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Unit is coordinating closely with the Mesa County Sheriff.
Fire information about the Pine Ridge Fire is available on www.inciweb.org or by calling 970 456-3623.
For information about preparing for possible evacuations, log on to www.sheriff.mesacounty.us.
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Christopher B. Joyner
Public Affairs Specialist
BLM NW Colorado District
2815 H Road
Grand Junction, CO 81506
(970) 244-3097
(970) 210-2126 (cell)
(970) 244-3052 (fax)
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As of 6:20 p.m. on June 27, 2012: BLM continues to fight the Pine Ridge Fire, which is what is has been named. For any information on the fire contact Chris Joyner, the GJ BLM PIO. The Sheriff's Office is not providing fire updates. With regard to the Mustang Ranch subdivision, it is an area of dirt plots only and NOT structures and homes. There may be some camp trailers up there, but not expecting them to be occupied. Deputies continue to try and make contact and check the area though. The DeBeque school is ready for evacuted folks but is NOT CURRENTLY open to them. Because, there is currently no residents/homes being evacuated. If there are any questions from the media about this, please contact Heather Benjamin.
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As of 4:45 p.m. on June 27, 2012: BLM is fighting a fire west of DeBeque in the Winter Flats area (Bookcliffs north of Grand Junction). That fire has jumped V.2 Road (west of DeBeque) and is near the Mustang Ranch subdivision. Those residents don't have landline phones, so we are using alternatives to get this information out to them as well as our Rural Area Deputies making contact. The school in DeBeque is open to anyone evacuating their residents in the DeBeque area.