Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — Questions about the fires burning in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness will be answered today by those closest to the blaze.

Aaron Gelobter, incident commander of the Type I Incident Management Team in charge of the 35,554-acre Mount Zirkel Complex, will be available to talk about the blaze at 1 p.m. at the Clark Store in North Routt County.

"He's going to explain what's going on up there," fire information officer Peter D'Aquanni said.

Seedhouse Road is reopened to the public in response to recent rains that have moderated the threat of the fire.

About seven-tenths of an inch of rain has fallen on the fire 25 miles north of Steamboat Springs.

"Getting that moisture really helped to keep fire activity down somewhat," D'Aquanni said.

No moisture, however, was reported Friday, in what fire officials expect to be the start of a drying trend.

Clearing skies and warming temperatures fueled increased fire activity that included reports of a few flare-ups within the interior of the blaze.

Fire information officer Bob Bayer said rain was also absent Friday from the 4,400-acre Green Creek fire.

Firefighters worked on strengthening their lines around the blaze, which is burning in the Sarvis Creek Wilderness area and is 68 percent contained. More than 350 people have been assigned to the fire.

"They're tightening up spots on the line," Bayer said.

Single-engine airplanes and helicopters were used to pinpoint hot spots from the air. Water was dropped on areas of the fire identified as hot spots, Bayer said.

Aerial resources for the Hinman and Burn Ridge fires, otherwise known as the Mount Zirkel Complex, are still in short supply, he said. The Type I Team is waiting for those orders to arrive.

Bayer said people working the Green Creek fire anticipate rising temperatures and dry weather could cause future flare-ups.

The number of people now assigned to the Mount Zirkel Complex is nearing 700.

Firefighters are concentrating efforts on the east and west edges of the Burn Ridge fire. Retardant was dropped on the fire's east side to cool down the blaze enough for crews to safely construct lines.

At the western edge of the Hinman fire, crews continue to improve lines closest to the residences along Seedhouse Road.

An 18-acre fire is burning 20 miles north of Hayden near Sugar Loaf Mountain. Sixteen smoke jumpers, two engines and two helicopters were immediately sent to the blaze, which was caused by lightning. Additional crews have been ordered.

The fire is expected to make some runs, Bayer said.

"We'll just have to see what happens overnight."