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PINON CANYON FIRE LAS ANIMAS COUNTY / USDA FOREST SERVICE NEWS RELEASE
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Photo's By Joe Hartman Type 2 Incident Commander |
Fire Information: Jenny Farenbaugh |
| The Las Animas County Sheriff"s Department and USDA Forest Service are cooperating on the fire, assisted by the Colorado State Forest Service and Ft. Carson Pinion Maneuver Site. These Agencies, local La Junta community businesses and volunteers throughout Otero County have been a huge support to this suppression effort. Firefighters were brought in from Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, Texas, Oregon, Montana, Idaho, Utah, South Dakota, and as far away as Minnesota. |
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Lightning on June 22, 2000 started the Pinon Canyon Fire, located approximately 30 miles south of La Junta, Colorado. Joe Hartmans -Type II Interagency Fire Management Team assumed management of this fire on June 24th, Saturday, from Las Animas County Sheriff - Lou Girado and Forest Supervisor - Gail Kimbell. To fire hburned approximately 830 acres. The fire was controlled by 6:00 p.m. Sunday, June 25th. Ninety percent of the fire burned on the private land of the Wooten Ranch, with portions of the fire burning on the Commanche National Grassland managed by the US Forest Service. |
This was the fire on the morning of 06/23/2000. It was approxmately 185 acres.
| The fire burned in scattered pinon pine, juniper, and annual grass vegetation types. Joe Hartman's Team turned back the management of the fire to the local Forest Service District personnel and Las Animas County Sheriff Department. Some firefighting units will remain assigned to the Pinon Canyon Fire incident in order to continue monitoring and patrol of the burned area. |  |
On Friday afternoon, June 23rd, the fire activity increased, as the fire spread. Here shown above, crowning in Pinon and Juniper.
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Accessibility into the Pinon Canyon Fire is difficult due to the rough roads. Firefighters are faced with "natural" safety hazards such as driving in terrain predominated by cliffs and narrow roads, as well as rattlesnakes, scorpions, and ticks. Firefighters have begun rehabilitation efforts where necessary and continue to minimize disturbances to any historic and prehistoric resources within the area. |
The Las Animas Sheriff's Department and USDA Forest Service will continue to cooperate on this fire, assisted by Colorado State Forest Service and Ft. Carson Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site. On behalf of Lou Girado - Las Animas County Sheriff, Gail Kimbell - Forest Supervisor on The Pike and San Isabel National Forest and Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands, and Joe Hartman's Team, we will extend our sincerest gratitude and thanks to the local agencies, local La Junta businesses, volunteer fire and police departments, and volunteers throughout Otero County who supported this suppression effort.
THANK YOU.