Crews around the Stoner Mesa Fire’s perimeter are assessing the conditions of roadways, trails and containment lines for possible repairs due to rain, according to a news release Wednesday from San Juan Team 8.
“Erosion is the main issue,” said public information officer Andy Lyon. “We just need to make sure the roads are passable.” Heavy vehicles could get obstructed by muddy roads, he said.
Water diversion bars may also need to be installed at some containment lines, preventing more runoff or debris from entering, said Lyon.
Much of the fire remains slow due to the rain, but some areas are still burning. Fire officials reported one-tenth of an inch of rain Tuesday morning and more than a quarter of an inch by Tuesday afternoon.
Lyon said that over the past three days, a gauge set up in Stoner has collected more than two inches of rainfall, even though that doesn’t mean this amount was evenly dispersed across the fire itself. More rain is anticipated for today.
Wet and slippery conditions have limited access to the fire, although some work was carried out yesterday to improve fire line construction and mop up efforts.
Fuel and debris from the fire is being removed and chipped by crews. Much of the fuels, however, are too wet to be burned, said Lyon.
Yesterday’s size count at 10,249 acres remains because no mapping aircraft flew over the fire, according to a Stoner Mesa Fire Information Facebook post from last night.
As of last night, the Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 1 has officially transferred command back to the previously operating San Juan Team 8.
“We appreciate the work that’s been done by Team 1,” said Incident Commander Trainee Corey Wilson. “And they left us in good shape to be successful in the days ahead.”
The overall number of personnel has also been reduced significantly, down from just under 800 Monday to just below 500 today.
Fire officials advise that people be on the lookout for traffic on Colorado Highway 145, County Road 38 and U.S. Highway 160 near the Montezuma County Fairgrounds as resources leave the Stoner Mesa Fire.
