Update on the six largest wildfires in Colorado

Air Tanker drop Oil Springs Fire
An Air Tanker drops on the Oil Springs Fire to protect a natural gas plant south of Rangely, CO. The retardant did not cover the plant. Posted 6-23-2021 on InciWeb.

Colorado has six wildfires larger than 500 acres. The fires have not been extremely active over the last couple of days and there is a chance of thunderstorms over most of the western part of the state through the weekend.

wildfires in Colorado, June 24, 2021

Oil Springs Fire, 11,933 acres, 18 miles south of Rangely. The Great Basin Incident Management Team 3 assumed command of the fire at 6:30 a.m. on June 22. Firefighters are still seeing active fire behavior due to dry conditions, receptive fuels and wind.

Muddy Slide Fire, 4,056 acres, 22 miles south of Steamboat Springs. The Rocky Mountain Area Type 2 Incident Management Team Blue assumed command of the Muddy Slide Fire at 6:00 a.m. Thursday. Evacuation information is available HERE. On Thursday, the fire area is forecast to receive afternoon showers, thunderstorms, and increased moisture, reducing fire behavior in the short-term, giving firefighters an opportunity to safely engage the fire.

Sylvan Fire, 3,752 acres, 12 miles south of Eagle. The Rocky Mountain Type 1 Incident Management Team, with Dan Dallas as Incident Commander assumed command of the fire at 6 a.m. Thursday. On the east side of the fire, crews are focusing on working from Sylvan Lake to the west creating a direct fireline from the lake to the power line road. On the west side firefighters are completing direct fireline on the southeast corner where the fire has crossed the Mount Thomas Trail.

West Fire, 3,401 acres, 41 miles southeast of Rock Springs, Wyoming on the WY/CO border. On Thursday crews are securing and strengthening fire lines on all sides of the fire. Unburned fuel inside containment lines will continue to burn and may produce smoke that will be visible as these interior pockets of fuel continue to burn inside established fire lines.

Trail Canyon Fire, 881 acres, 10 miles northwest of Red Mesa. The spread of the fire has been stopped.

Wild Cow Fire, 553 acres, 26 miles north of Fruita. The fire is being managed by Ross Wilmore and the Upper Colorado River Type 3 Incident Management Team. Not much additional information is available.

Muddy Slide Fire prompts evacuations in Routt County, Colorado

3:22 p.m. MDT June 23, 2021

Muddy Slide Fire map Colorado
Map showing heat detected by satellites on the Muddy Slide Fire at 3 a.m. MDT June 23, 2021.

The Muddy Slide Fire 21 miles south of Steamboat Springs, Colorado has burned approximately 3,000 acres at elevations ranging from 8,300 to 10,000 feet. A few decades ago forests at these elevations were too wet to burn frequently. Last year and this year we have seen it happening on a number of fires. Right now the 3,500-acre Sylvan Fire is burning above 9,000 feet 13 miles south of Eagle, Colorado.

Mandatory evacuations have been ordered on the Muddy Slide Fire for residents on County Road 16 between mile markers 12 and 21.

The fire was very active Tuesday spreading south and southeast with crowning, wind driven runs, and long-range spotting. It continued to burn actively throughout the night.

The Rocky Mountain Blue Type 2 incident management team has been ordered. Tuesday evening firefighting resources assigned to the fire included 3 hand crews, 4 engines, and 4 helicopters, for a total of 101 personnel.  An additional eight hand crews are on order.

Smoke Colorado Muddy Slide Fire
Smoke from the Muddy Slide Fire as seen from the Incident Command Post at 8 p.m. June 22, 2021. InciWeb photo.