HUERFANO COUNTY — If you live out in Huerfano County or Custer County, be aware you may see more smoke from the Reveille Fire on Saturday, according to the Custer County Sheriff's Office.
The fire was sparked on June 3 by a lightning strike. As this is a remote area with no homes or structures, no evacuations are in place. Fire command is using tactics designed to reduce risk to firefighters in the difficult to access area with heavy downed trees and other fuels on the rugged terrain.
In the month since ignition, the fire has burned more than 75 acres 9.5 miles north of Gardner in the San Carlos Ranger District of the San Isabel National Forest.
A total of 27 personnel are assigned to the fire that is only 4% contained. Crews are improving roads in the area to act as fire breaks and using firing operations to create fire breaks.
The fire is under the command of Incident Commander Alfonso Montoya. Cooperating agencies include the Upper Huerfano County Fire Protection District and the Wet Mountain Fire Protection District.
According to command, "the Reveille Fire will be a long-term event, with slow growth and smoldering that may persist for several months, along with occasional periods of heavier smoke when burning conditions are elevated. This is typical of fires burning in remote areas with heavy, dead, fuels. While Colorado is not currently considered in drought conditions, the moisture level in the heavy, dead vegetation (fuel) is still very low, as it is still recovering from cumulative drought conditions. This means the potential for burning of these dead fuels is still high, and once ignited, they can smolder for quite some time."
Operations have forced the closure of Pole Creek Trail, Salt Road, and Turkey Creek Road. More information on the response can be found here: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6381/
