Pine Gulch Fire Now Over 82,838 Acres With Little Containment
While most of us were showered with ash and were breathing in the smell of the wildfires around us the fires continued to burn. As we learned last Friday the Pine Gulch Fire that is burning 18 miles north of Grand Junction had become the largest active wildfire in the United States. And over the weekend we saw that fire grow to now over 82,838 acres while it remains only 7% contained.
We all know that hundreds of the best firefighters in the United States are working to contain this fire but due to the very warm temperatures and dry conditions, this fire is extremely difficult to control. We got the update from the Pine Gulch Fire Facebook page that today (Monday, August 17th) they are expecting a weather inversion which will create very smoky conditions and continue to make it difficult to fight this fire.
If you want to know more about the Pine Gulch Fire that continues to burn you should be ready tonight at 6 p.m. as there will be a virtual public meeting that will be live-streamed on Facebook as well as Inciweb.
Both Garfield County and Mesa County have emergency alert systems to alert citizens by cell or landline phone about emergencies if you want to know more and stay in the know about Garfield County emergencies click here, and for Mesa County click here.
As of now, there are 4 Type 1 hand crews, 6 Type 2 hand crews, 9 helicopters, 57 engines, 8 bulldozers, 17 water tenders, and lots of overhead/support personnel working on the Pine Gulch Fire.