MINERAL COUNTY - The Goose Creek Fire, located several miles west of the Town of South Fork and 13 miles south of Creede is now 90 percent contained. The rapid containment was aided by several rain showers void of lighting over the Fourth of July weekend and multiple water drops from T1 and T2 helicopters. The fire is bordered by healthy aspen groves, rock bands and an area previously burned during the West Fork Complex in 2013.
Most of the resources assigned to the fire last week have been released to return home or assist at other fires. “Some of those large dead trees that have fallen since the West Fork Fire seven years ago will continue to smolder until we get significant moisture,” says Incident Commander Derrick Rader. A small number of firefighters will continue to stay in the area to monitor the fire in the days ahead. While staged at the Humphreys Ranch, firefighters completed a structure protection plan for the ranch, as well as for the adjacent 4UR Ranch. This plan will give firefighters a head start in safeguarding those properties if another fire should threaten the Goose Creek Valley in the future. July 7, the Type 3 Management Team currently in charge of the fire will turn over operations to a smaller, Type 4, organization.
Currently there are 19 personnel who are monitoring the fire which is expected to increase 160 acres.
The fire was first reported Sunday, June 28. Approximately 108 firefighters and support personnel were staged at the Humphreys Ranch which included a hotshot crew, a 20-person hand crew and half a dozen fire engines.
