Firefighters will focus on the southern and southwest side of the East Canyon Fire on Wednesday as the estimated size of the lightning-sparked fire was reduced by 135 acres.
Pam Wilson, spokeswoman for the Rocky Mountain Blue Type 2 fire incident team handling the fire, said the reduction in size comes from better mapping, not from a reduction fire’s size. An infrared-mapping flight about 10:35 p.m. Monday indicated the fire was at 2,568 acres, down from Tuesday’s estimated 2,703 acres.
The flight also revealed an area of intense heat outside the main perimeter. An area on the south side of Devils Canyon increased in size and was moving southeast. Chris Zoller, operations chief for the team, in a morning briefing said the southwest side of the fire is burning on a mesa, and some work is planned to keep the fire burning on top the mesa and from dropping into two nearby bowls.
Aerial drops will be used and a risk assessment will be made about introducing hand crews in the area to keep the fire on the mesa.
U.S. Highway 160 is expected to remain open on Wednesday, but the potential remains it could close because of decreased visibility from smoke or for firefighting requirements, Zoller said in a morning briefing.
Most of the smoke from the fire, which started Sunday afternoon, is coming from the south end of the fire he said.
On the fire’s northeast side firefighters are using a rock scree and building hand lines an dozer lines to extend a fire line to an open meadow, where the fire can burn itself out.
Burnouts are also occurring along Cherry Creek Road (County Road 105) where firefighters plan to contain the fire if it manages to burn down to the road.
On the northwest side of the fire, hand crews are working with engines to secure firelines and protect houses in this area.
The fire is burning along the La Plata-Montezuma county line.
A red flag warning of critical fire conditions has been issued for Southwest Colorado from 9 a.m. Wednesday through 9 a.m. Thursday. The warning is in effect for all of La Plata and Montezuma counties
Winds are expected to range from 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.
Today’s high temperature is expected to be 79 in Mancos.
parmijo@durangoherald.com