The U.S. Forest Service issued the following update Thursday morning.
Trail Springs Fire | Size:1,251 Acres | Containment: 37% | Cause: Lightning
Smoke coming from the Trail Creek Fire was objectively lighter yesterday than the day before and the fire experienced no significant growth. Soil conditions have improved since last weekend’s winter storms. So, suppression repair work will begin in places where the perimeter is secure, such as around the spot fire to the northeast of the main fire and the area near the Chris Mountain Fire scar. Suppression repair is done under the guidance of a Resource Advisor, a specialist that understands the impacts of fire suppression activity on natural and cultural resources such as soils, wildlife, plants, historical and archeological sites, watersheds, and other resources that may have been affected by firefighting activities. Under the direction of the Resource Advisor, firefighters will return firelines, dozer lines, and other impacts from suppression efforts as close as possible to the state in which they were found before they began fighting this fire.
The fire danger level is currently high, so it is important that forest users completely drown campfires to prevent unintended escape. Use the “drown, stir, feel” method to be sure it's dead out.
Mill Creek 2 Fire |Size: 122 Acres | Containment: 0% | Cause: Under Investigation
This fire is located in rugged, remote terrain near the border of the South San Juan Wilderness Area. Firefighters continue to actively observe fire behavior from strategic locations on the ground and from the air. During yesterday’s flight, only two areas of smoke were observed from smoldering material within the existing footprint.
Weather: This high pressure system is parked over the Pagosa area, keeping conditions clear, sunny, and dry for at least the next five days. Lows today and tomorrow will be in the 20’s and highs could reach nearly 60. Winds remain light from the west/southwest and relative humidity continues to drop.
San Juan National Forest Temporary Closures: An area closure is in place involving roads and trails in or near the Trail Springs Fire area (Middle Mountain area), including Forest Road 630, East Monument Road, at its intersection with Turkey Springs Road. Details of the closure are on the Trail Springs Fire InciWeb page and on the “Alerts and Notices” page of the forest website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/sanjuan/alerts-notices.
A temporary flight restriction is in effect: https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_3_8962.html#areas.
