Grizzly Creek Fire

Wildfire ignites in Glenwood Canyon this afternoon

I-70 from Glenwood Springs to Gypsum will remain closed overnight

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. — This afternoon about 60 firefighters and numerous aircraft responded to the 1,300-acre Grizzly Creek Fire in Glenwood Canyon near the Grizzly Creek rest area, about five miles east of Glenwood Springs.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. There are no immediate threats to structures and no evacuations are in place.

Most of the firefighting effort this afternoon took place from the air because the rugged terrain and extreme fire behavior. This afternoon the air attack included two VLATs (very large air tankers), five LATs (large air tankers), five helicopters, and two SEATs (single engine air tankers).

Interstate 70 is closed in both directions from Exit 116 (Glenwood Springs) to Exit 140 (Gypsum); alternate routes are advised. The highway will be reopened when it is safe to do so. The Forest Service is closing Coffee Pot Road outside of Dotsero and associated areas of the Flattops, as well as Hanging Lake. A map and more information about the closure will be posted tomorrow.

The fire was first reported 1:29 p.m. today. Upon arrival the firefighters encountered large active flames in the I-70 median before the fire took a run up the north-facing slope. Supporting agencies include the Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Unit, Glenwood Springs Fire Department, Garfield County Sheriff’s Office, Gypsum Fire Protection District, Roaring Fork Fire Rescue, Carbondale Fire and Rural Fire Protection District, Colorado River Fire Rescue, and the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control. Firefighters are coordinating closely with the Colorado Department of Transportation.

Firefighters reported extreme fire behavior. Conditions throughout western Colorado remain very dry, and fire danger is high.

Fire updates can be found on the Grizzly Creek Fire Facebook page @GrizzlyCreekFireCO or on Inciweb

For Colorado Department of Transportation updates please visit: www.COTRIP.org

UPDATE 8.10.20 at 8:30 p.m.: FINAL EVENING UPDATE – Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Unit (UCR): Fire operations will conclude tonight and begin again tomorrow. CDOT has released that I-70 Glenwood Canyon Exit 116 (Glenwood Springs) to Exit 140 (Gypsum) will remain closed overnight. Also, access to the Flat Tops Wilderness from Coffee Pot Road is closed. For updates please visit: InciWeb

UPDATE 8.10.20 at 7:15 p.m.: I-70 Glenwood Canyon closure to continue overnight

Colorado Department of Transportation: CDOT asks motorists to plan on I-70 in Glenwood Canyon to be closed overnight on Monday, Aug. 10. The safety closure is to allow CDOT specialists to assess two bridges located near where the Grizzly Creek Fire started, as well as increased rockfall hazard in Glenwood Canyon.

Increased rockfall has been reported and is likely due to burned vegetation no longer holding rocks in place. CDOT asks that motorists *not* use Cottonwood Pass as a detour, due to fire activity.

I-70 closure locations are at the following locations:
– At Gypsum (Exit 140) for westbound I-70
– At Glenwood Springs (Exit 116) for eastbound I-70.

CDOT continues to recommend the below detours for travelers. We understand these detours add several hours travel time, and appreciate that motorists understand the safety closure on I-70 is absolutely necessary.

Agencies are responding to the Grizzly Creek Fire in Glenwood Canyon, which began at Mile Point 120. Closures and delays may continue to be extensive.

DETOUR ROUTES CDOT recommends that travelers use highways to the south of I-70 while detouring:

– Travelers heading westbound on I-70 can use US 24, CO 91, or CO 9 to US 285 US 50 and continue west.
– Motorists headed east on I-70 can travel on US 50 to travel east towards US 24, CO 91 or CO 9 to return to I-70 eastbound, or continue east on 285 to the Denver metro area.
– Motorists can take a northern detour of CO 131 to US 40 to CO 139. Please note that while CO 13 is open at this time, it is not a recommended detour due to construction. *Oversize commercial vehicles are not allowed due to construction conditions on CO 13.
Delays are likely on these routes, as they do not normally carry traffic volumes as heavy as I-70. CDOT asks that motorists *not* use Cottonwood Pass, due to fire activity.

UPDATE 8.10.20 at 7:15 p.m.Garfield County Public Health: Wildfire smoke can irritate your lungs, cause inflammation, affect your immune system, and make you more prone to lung infections, including COVID-19.

Visit the Centers for Disease Control’s Wildfire Smoke and COVID-19 page to learn about the differences between symptoms of smoke exposure and COVID-19, and for ways to protect yourself from wildfire smoke during the pandemic.

UPDATE 8.10.20 at 5:58 p.m.Westbound I-70 is open between mile marker 116 and 109.

UPDATE 8.10.20 at 6:06 p.m.The Grizzly Creek Fire is reporting around 1300 acres with over 60+firefighters on scene. Heavy air attack with four Heavy Air Tankers, two Single Engine Air Tankers (SEAT) and a Type I and Type III helicopter.

NO DRONES or UAS (unmanned aerial systems) are authorized in the area #IfYouFlyWeCant #grizzlycreekfire#120Fire https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6942/

UPDATE 8.10.20 at 5:00 p.m.:This active wildfire continues to burn in Glenwood Canyon near Grizzly Creek (about six miles east of the main Glenwood Springs Exit). Currently there is heavy air attack taking place. A Temporary Flight Restriciton (TFR) is in place over the fire, remember NO DRONES or UAS (unmanned aerial systems) are authorized in the area #IfYouFlyWeCant #grizzlycreekfire#120Fire
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6942/

UPDATE: 8.10.20 at 4:40 p.m.
Official fire information is located at:
Inciweb is active-incident #6942
White River National Forest facebook page https://www.facebook.com/GrizzlyCreekFireCO
Phone: #970-930-1850
grizzlycreekfire@gmail.com

UPDATE: 8.10.20 at 4:30 pm The eastbound I-70 closure now begins at Canyon Creek, MM 109.

UPDATE: 8.10.20 at 3:15 pm The westbound I-70 closure now begins at Gypsum, MM 140.
press release-|

UPDATE: 8.10.20 at 2:48 pm – In light of the Glenwood Canyon Interstate 70 closure, CDOT recommends that westbound travelers take US 24 to US 285 to Poncha Springs, where motorists can turn west on US 50, which reaches I-70 in Grand Junction.

Eastbound travelers should take US 50 to Poncha Springs, turn left onto US 285 to US 24, which reaches I-70 between Avon and Vail.

Motorists can take a northern detour of CO 131 to US 40 to 139. CO 13 at Rifle is open at this time, but not recommended due to construction.

UPDATE: 8.10.20 at 2:44 p.m. – One helicopter is on scene. Four heavy air tankers are en route. #120Fire

Fire moving uphill rapidly.

I-70 closed eastbound at mile marker 116 in Glenwood Springs. Closed westbound at Dotsero exit.

Follow updates on facebook: @glenwoodspringsfiredepartment – #120fire; to sign up for emergency alerts in Garfield County, please visit garco911.com and register at garfieldcounty.net for Garfield County Emergency Management.

Air Quality Alert: Unhealthy for sensitive groups – wildfire smoke

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and Garfield County Public Health have issued an air quality health advisory due to wildfire smoke.

Wildfire smoke may reach unhealthy levels for sensitive groups. If visibility is less than 5 miles in your neighborhood, avoid outdoor exercise and keep indoor air clean.

Visit the Environmental Health air quality page for real-time data on air quality and information on how to stay healthy during a wildfire smoke advisory.
press release-|

Residents evacuated north of Pine Gulch Fire