UPDATE July 28, 2021 Morgan Creek Inciweb
The Incident Command Post for the Morgan Creek Fire in North Routt has moved from Steamboat Springs Middle School, completely up to Clark. It’s in a field behind the Clark Store. Jared Kennedy is with Oak Creek Fire Rescue, but he is also the Public Information Officer trainee for the Morgan Creek Fire.
The Morgan Creek Fire has been moved down to a Type III fire. It was started by lightning on July 9. You can see more of the interview with Kennedy and tour the commend post on our website and Facebook page.
Watch a video tour with Jared Kennedy on our Facebook page.
The Fire is at 8% containment, having burned 6,555 acres. It’s 15 miles north of Steamboat. 253 personnel are working the fire.
UPDATE July 20, 2021 Morgan Creek Inciweb
Fire activity increased Monday because of the warmer temperatures and lower relative humidity. The Morgan Creek Fire was mapped overnight at 5,117 acres. Fire activity is expected to be moderate today as cloud cover will increase and there will be more chances of showers or thunderstorms today.
On Monday, crews continued improving, mopping up, and patrolling the indirect line in Division X south of Wapiti Ranch to the 471 Road and east to the wilderness boundary. That work will continue again today. In Division Z, crews will continue improving and mopping up fire line between the northwest corner of the fire and the Wapiti Ranch. The fire was most active in Division A again on Monday. The fire was active on the north edge continuing to burn in heavy dead-and-down timber as it worked downhill towards the wet meadow. Conditions were favorable for crews to conduct a second day of aerial firing operations on the east end of Division A on Monday. This operation resulted in approximately 300 acres of additional fire growth. Removing this fuel will straighten out the fire’s edge, which increases the likelihood that the fire will back down the slope towards the wet meadow in South Fork of the Elk River at a measured pace. If conditions are favorable, this operation may continue today to help bring the fire’s perimeter farther down the drainage and to remove unburned islands of fuel within the fire’s perimeter.
Closures and Evacuations: A forest closure order remains in effect for areas near the Morgan Creek Fire including many areas in the Seedhouse recreation corridor and the Mt. Zirkel Wilderness Area. The Routt County Sheriff’s Office issued a voluntary pre-evacuation notice for residents near the fire on July 9. That pre-evacuation notice remains in effect and more information is available on the Routt County Current Evacuation Notices Map. Forest Service Road 400, also known as the Seedhouse Road, as well as other Forest Service roads and trails in the closure area remain closed to entry for public and firefighter safety. County Road 64 between County Road 129 and Forest Service Road 400 is limited to emergency and local traffic only. A section of the Continental Divide Trail is closed and hikers are being routed along State Route 129 around the fire area. More information is available on the Continental Divide Trail Coalition website.
Crews in all divisions will be supported by two Type 1 helicopters and two Type 3 helicopters, as needed.
UPDATE July 16, 2021 Morgan Creek Inciweb
The Morgan Creek Fire has grown to 4,333 acres with most of the growth on the northeast side of the fire. Containment is at 0%. 354 personnel are working on the Morgan Creek Fire now, with Incident Command at Steamboat Springs Middle School.
On Thursday, a fire line was constructed between the NW corner of the fire and the Wapiti Ranch. Crews in all divisions are being supported by two Type I helicopters and three Type 3 helicopters, as needed.
Weather and Fuel Conditions: Partially cloudy skies and increased humidity again tempered fire behavior on Thursday. Today, temperatures are expected to be in the mid-70s with clear skies in the morning and clouds developing in the afternoon. Winds are expected to be out of the southwest at 5-7 mph switching to northwest with gusts up to 20 mph in the afternoon if storms pass over the fire. Relative humidity is expected to be 16-21% throughout the day.
Closures and Evacuations: A forest closure order remains in effect for areas near the Morgan Creek Fire including many areas in the Seedhouse recreation corridor and the Mt. Zirkel Wilderness Area. The Routt County Sheriff’s Office issued a voluntary pre-evacuation notice for residents near the fire on July 9. That pre-evacuation notice remains in effect and more information is available on the Routt County Current Evacuation Notices Map. Forest Service Road 400, also known as the Seedhouse Road, as well as other Forest Service roads and trails in the closure area remain closed to entry for public and firefighter safety. County Road 64 between County Road 129 and Forest Service Road 400 is limited to emergency and local traffic only. A section of the Continental Divide Trail is closed and hikers are being routed along State Route 129 around the fire area. More information is available on the Continental Divide Trail Coalition website.
- InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7635/
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/MorganCreekFire
- Morgan Creek Fire Interactive Map: https://bit.ly/36II8Cu
UPDATE: 3 p.m. July 13, 2021 Morgan Creek Inciweb
The Forward Operating Base (FOB) for the Morgan Creek Fire is moving to Steamboat Springs Middle School in Strawberry Park. The Rocky Mountain Incident Management Black Team is setting up to take command at 6 a.m. tomorrow morning (Wednesday, July 14).
UPDATE: July 12, 2021 Morgan Creek Inciweb
Air Quality Alerts and Advisories continue to be issued by the National Weather Service for Routt County. It’s because of the Morgan Creek Fire in North Routt. Check PurpleAir.com to get the latest on the air quality and any dangers.
3,868 acres have burned in the Morgan Creek Fire up in North Routt, as of today. It’s at zero percent containment and fire behavior has been rated as extreme. The new fire, met up with last year’s Middle Fork Fire. Here’s Public Information Officer Hutson Vann.
The total personnel working the fire is now up to 140. Vann says a big concern right now is the Wapiti Ranch.
Other firefighters are working other perimeters.
The Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team Black is coming in to be in charge with local, county, state, and federal officials. They are based at North Routt Charter School for now but they are expected to be moving to a larger facility Wednesday or Thursday.
Windy weather and maybe lightning could be in today’s forecast which has firefighters concerned.
