Spring Creek Basin Mustangs

We haven’t gotten many red sunsets that I’d attribute to the smoky haze in the sky. … But this might have been. Our air hasn’t been nearly as smoky as reports from friends farther east and south (into New Mexico).

We’re all looking desperately for rain. Our chances are down to 50 percent for today, but the future radar from last night’s news looks promising.

Another fire started yesterday: the Upper Mailbox Fire near Norwood and Redvale, which are northeast of Spring Creek Basin.

BLM is joining the Forest Service in closing some areas around Durango:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:  Shannon Borders, 970-240-5399 or Chris Asbjorn, 970-240-5317

BLM Tres Rios Field Office implements emergency closure for fire danger for areas near Durango

MONTROSE, Colo. – On Friday, June 15, the Bureau of Land Management Tres Rios Field Office is implementing an emergency closure for fire danger in select areas within La Plata County, near Durango, Colorado. Public entry is closed to the Durango Special Recreation Management area lands including Animas City Mountain (above City property), Skyline, Grandview and Turtle Lake/East Animas Climbing Areas. In addition, the Perrins Peak Wildlife Management Area, adjoining the state wildlife area is closed. The purpose of the closure is to protect natural resources and public safety due to the dangers of wildfire.

“The BLM supports the efforts of other agencies in the area to manage wildfire risk during a record drought,” said Connie Clementson, BLM Tres Rios Field Manager. “Public lands outside of the Durango area remain open, and we want to remind everyone to be safe and not add to wildfire risk this summer.”

Currently, Stage 2 fire restrictions are in place throughout the Tres Rios Field Office, which prohibit open burning, smoking, target shooting and off route use of motor vehicles. The BLM decided to move into targeted closures in selected areas of the field office in order to address concerns from the local community and cooperating agencies and to be consistent with the City of Durango, La Plata County, San Juan National Forest and Colorado Parks and Wildlife who implemented similar closures earlier this week.

The BLM continuously monitors the conditions throughout the area and will modify the emergency closure and fire restrictions as needed. Maps and additional information about BLM emergency closures and fire restrictions are available at https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-information/colorado/ or call the BLM Southwest District Fire Management Information Hotline at 970-240-1070 for updates about local fires.

Exemptions to the emergency closure include authorized activities of any federal, state or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting effort in the performance of an official duty. Additionally, holders of valid BLM permits within the closure area should contact the BLM at 970-882-1120 with questions regarding impacts to their permits. Additionally, leases and authorizations are allowed to conduct approved activities, but are required to take extra precautions to prevent fire starts.

I almost (*almost*) wish I could tell readers that that’s dust in the background. It has been windy … forever, it seems.

But that’s smoke, and it rolled in like a crazy wall around 8 p.m. Timelapse video probably couldn’t have been more dramatic than the weirdly fast way it advanced.

In hopeful news, weather forecasters are giving us a 100 percent chance of rain on Saturday. … It must be true, right????! 🙂

I told someone that, and he replied, “You’re either a fool or a newcomer if you believe that.”

Yeah. I’ll believe it when the rain is in my gauge.

Come for the mustangs, stay for the weather report. 🙂

Meanwhile … obviously, the fire are still burning. Some good news there: About half of the evacuees from the 416 Fire have been allowed to return home.