Garfield County Sheriff’s Office

Spring Creek Fire July 4

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Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 2

Jeramy Dietz

July 4th, 2023 Operational update from the Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 2. 

Jeramy Dietz, Planning Operations Section Chief Trainee, gives us an overview of each division’s operational plans for today. 

Have a safe and happy Independence Day!

July 4th Spring Creek Fire map

Spring Creek Fire Update
July 4, 2023 
Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team Two
Jared Hohn, Incident Commander
Date Reported: June 24, 2023
Cause: Under Investigation 
Size: 2,932 acres 
Containment: 37% 
Total Personnel: 538 
Location: Southwest of Parachute, CO 

Current Situation: The Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team Two carefully prepared for today’s Red Flag Warning by adapting tactical plans. While the exact challenges the weather conditions may bring today are unknown, fire managers have created a plan of action by studying the dryness of area vegetation, carefully assessing the topography of the area, and using computer modeling to predict possible fire behavior.  

Yesterday, firefighters again cooled hot spots along the perimeter of the fire and built line by hand and heavy equipment. Crews removed brush along roadsides to create fire barriers. Their efforts gained containment and slowed the growth of the Spring Creek Fire. These fire control measures will be tested by the predicted weather, but firefighters have prepared for it by placing supplies like hoses, pumps, and water tanks at advantageous locations; scouting out and marking safe travel corridors for personnel and vehicles; and developing safety plans to protect firefighters in emergency situations.  

Contingency plans are developed in case the primary fire controls do not suffice. One contingency plan designed to further protect the populated areas on the north side of the fire is the clearing of vegetation along the gravel road north of Dry Creek Road. This provides a second fuel break between the fire and developed areas as an additional defensive tactic. 

Spring Creek Road and High Mesa Road are open to local traffic only. Please avoid these areas if possible and drive with caution because of increased fire traffic on the roadway. 

Weather & Smoke Information: Temperatures and winds will increase today, and the fire will become more active after the inversion breaks around 11:00 a.m. A Red Flag Warning is in effect from noon to 9 p.m. on July 4th. Gusts of wind up to 45 mph are predicted. Over the next few days, the temperatures will remain near 90° F. Winds will calm on Wednesday but increase again Thursday thru Saturday. Residents are asked to help reduce any new fire starts during the holiday’s critical fire weather that would pull resources away from the Spring Creek Fire. 

Closures: Bureau of Land Management Colorado River Valley Field Office and US Forest Service White River National Forest have public land closure orders in place for the safety of public and firefighters.  

Visit BLM Colorado River Valley Field Office and U.S. Forest Service – White River for closure orders. 

Evacuations: There are no evacuations at this time. Residents are encouraged to register with Garfield County’s emergency notification system at: Garfield County Emergency Communications Authority. All evacuation orders will be conducted through the Sheriff’s office. Call recorded message line at 970-981-3401 for current evacuation information 

Temporary Flight Restrictions: There is a TFR (FDC 3/0215) in place for air space over the Spring Creek Fire to reduce impacts to fire aviation operators. Fire aviation response is halted or delayed if an unauthorized aircraft enters the TFR. Temporary flight restrictions also apply to unmanned aircraft system (UAS) or drones. If you fly, we can’t! 

Fire Information Phoneline: (970) 414-1772 Time: 8 a.m.–9 p.m. 

Media inquiries: (970) 414-1665 Time: 8 a.m.–9 p.m. 

Facebook: Spring Creek Fire 2023

Email: 2023.springcreek@firenet.gov 

InciWeb: Spring Creek Fire Information

Garfield County Sheriff’s Office – Colorado

Spring Creek Fire July 4

Spring Creek Fire July 3

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Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team Two

Date Reported: June 24, 2023
Cause: Under Investigation
Size: 2,932 acres
Containment: 37%
Total Personnel: 539
Location: Southwest of Parachute, CO

Current Situation: The Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 2 will continue to prepare for critical fire weather conditions expected on Tuesday, July 4, including high temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds. Firefighters’ efforts include patrolling and looking for hot spots inside the fire perimeter that could again become active with strong winds. Hand crews and heavy equipment will improve and expand hand and dozer lines already in place. One piece of equipment, a masticator, is similar to a wood chipper; it “chews up” heavy vegetation and trees, widening the fuel break.


The incident management team includes both its own incident meteorologist and a fire behavior analyst who work cooperatively to predict fire activity and growth based on weather, vegetation, topography, historical fire data, and other factors. Their contributions further assist the team with proactive and contingency planning.


Due to the weather forecast, the plan to ignite pockets of unburned dense vegetation in the NE corner of the fire (Division P on the map) was delayed yesterday. The intent of this action was to tie two spot fires into the main fire perimeter near the area where crews have been working with heavy equipment to build a substantial fire line.


Spring Creek Road and High Mesa Road are open to local traffic only. Please avoid these areas if possible and drive with caution with increase in fire personnel on the roadway.
Weather & Smoke Information: The weather is predicted to continue to be warm and dry. Light NW winds on Monday are expected to noticably increase on Tuseday with possible gusts up to 40 mph. Tuesday will likely bring the most critical fire weather conditions this area has seen since Monday, June 26 when the fire grew rapidly. Residents are asked to help reduce any new fire starts during the holiday’s Fire Weather Watch that would pull resources away from the Spring Creek Fire during this weather event.


Closures: Bureau of Land Management Colorado River Valley Field Office and US Forest Service White River National Forest have public land closure orders in place for the safety of public and firefighters.
Visit BLM Colorado River Valley Field Office and U.S. Forest Service – White River for closure orders.

Evacuations: There are no evacuations at this time. Residents are encouraged to register with Garfield County’s emergency notification system at: Garfield County Emergency Communications Authority. All evacuation orders will be conducted through the Sheriff’s office. Call recorded message line at 970-981-3401 for current evacuation information.


Temporary Flight Restrictions: There is a TFR (FDC 3/0215) in place for air space over the Spring Creek Fire to reduce impacts to fire aviation operators. Fire aviation response is halted or delayed if an unauthorized aircraft enters the TFR. Temporary flight restrictions also apply to unmanned aircraft system (UAS) or drones. If you fly, we can’t!


Fire Information Phoneline: (970) 414-1772 Time: 8 a.m.–9 p.m.
Media inquiries: (970) 414-1665 Time: 8 a.m.–9 p.m.
Facebook: Spring Creek Fire 2023
Email: 2023.springcreek@firenet.gov InciWeb: Spring Creek Fire Information

Spring Creek Fire July 3

GCSO: Missing juvenile in Garfield County

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Garfield County Sheriff’s Office

UPDATE: July 4, 3:57 pm – The Garfield County Sheriff’s Office reported that Ayla Weston was found and returned to her parents.

GARFIELD COUNTY, CO. –  The following description, information and picture was posted on the Garfield County, Colorado Sheriff’s Facebook page. Please post or share as soon as possible. Hopefully we can locate this person. Our sources indicate that she was last seen in Rifle/New Castle area. She was visiting a relative in Rifle, but originally was from the Craig area.

Ayla Marie Weston


Please Share!

Missing Juvenile 

If you have any information, please call the non-emergency dispatch number at 970-625-8095 and ask for the deputy on duty.

Name: Ayla Marie Weston

Age: 16 years

Height: 5’10”

Weight: 124 lbs.

Eyes: Brown

Hair: Brown Medium Length

Last Seen: 7/1/2023 at 7 pm in Rifle, CO.

Last Seen Wearing: Black Crop Top, Black/Grey Checkered Sweats, Black Vans, Belly Piercing

Potentially between Rifle and New Castle. 

All assistance in this matter is appreciated.

GCSO: Missing juvenile in Garfield County

Spring Creek Fire – July 2

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Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team Two

Top of Div Z a view from Crane Valley Interagency Hotshot Crew as they crest the ridge

Top of Div Z a view from Crane Valley Interagency Hotshot Crew as they crest the ridge – pictures above and below

Top of Div Z a view from Crane Valley Interagency Hotshot Crew as they crest the ridge

July 2 Spring Creek Fire map
July 2 map of Spring Creek Fire

Indirect dozer line from Div P photo credit Mark Abrahamson HEQB

Indirect dozer line from Div P photo credit Mark Abrahamson HEQB

Indirect dozer line from Div P photo credit Mark Abrahamson HEQB

Afternoon operational update from the field July 2, 2023:

Crews are making great progress on both direct and indirect line.

In Division Z crews are working direct and in the black securing the line and looking for hot spots to extinguish.

In Division P crews continue to work on dozer line and clearing vegetation for the indirect line.

July 2 Spring Creek Fire briefing video

Today’s operational update from the Rocky Mountain Critical Incident Management Team 2.

Jeramy Dietz, Planning Operations Section Chief Trainee, delivers today’s operations plan and coordination with the Incident Meteorologist (IMET) and Long Term Fire Analyst (LTAN).

July 2, 2023
Jared Hohn, Incident Commander
Date Reported: June 24, 2023 Cause: Under Investigation Size: 2,925 acres Containment: 25%
Total Personnel: 521
Location: Southwest of Parachute, CO
Current Situation: The Spring Creek Fire experienced minimal growth yesterday.


Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 2 continued improving containment lines. While the percentage of containment remained about the same, firefighters are making good progress on the work of strengthening and connecting sections of fireline. Making sure the fireline is secure is especially important because there is a Red Flag Weather Warning predicted for July 4th. Fire managers are looking at the predicted conditions and are modeling fire behavior so they are prepared to deal with the likely conditions. The varied fuels and extreme terrain still present substantial challenges. Today firefighters will continue work to gain more containment around the fire, cool hot spots along the edge, cut snags that may carry fire across the lines if they fell, and strengthen current fireline. Crews may possibly ignite some pockets of unburned fuel in areas of dense vegetation to provide a wider barrier if weather conditions allow. Providing for firefighter safety is always a primary priority, but fire managers and firefighters are even more aware of the gravity of their work today, National Wildland Firefighter Day.
Spring Creek Road and High Mesa Road are open to local traffic only. Please avoid these areas if possible and drive with caution with increase in fire personnel on the roadway.

Weather & Smoke Information: The weather is predicted to continue to be warm and dry with clear skies for the next two days. Light NW winds of 5-10 mph are predicted. Overnight humidity recovery is expected to be poor causing the fire to become more active earlier in the day, but no significant movement is expected today. By Tuesday, the weather is predicted to grow warmer and much windier creating near critical fire weather conditions. The Spring Creek Fire is producing smoke that may affect air quality.

For information on current air quality and related health concerns, visit Garfield County air quality or AirNow.


Closures: Bureau of Land Management Colorado River Valley Field Office and US Forest Service White River National Forest have public land closure orders in place for the safety of public and firefighters.
Visit BLM Colorado River Valley Field Office and U.S. Forest Service – White River for closure orders.


Evacuations: There are no evacuations at this time. Residents are encouraged to register with Garfield County’s emergency notification system at: Garfield County Emergency Communications Authority. All evacuation orders will be conducted through the Sheriff’s office. Call recorded message line at 970-981-3401 for current evacuation information.


Temporary Flight Restrictions: There is a TFR (FDC 3/0215) in place for air space over the Spring Creek Fire to reduce impacts to fire aviation operators. Fire aviation response is halted or delayed if an unauthorized aircraft enters the TFR. Temporary flight restrictions also apply to unmanned aircraft system (UAS) or drones. If you fly, we can’t!


Fire Information Phoneline: (970) 414-1772 Time: 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Facebook: Spring Creek Fire 2023 Email: 2023.springcreek@firenet.gov InciWeb: Spring Creek Fire Information

Spring Creek Fire – July 2