Wildfire in Mesa County That Began Friday Climbs to 1,500 Acres By Sunday

Pine Gulch Fire
Courtesy of Incident Information System
The flames and smoke of the Pine Gulch Fire can be seen on rugged terrain in Mesa County on Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020.

Ignited Friday night by lightning, the Pine Gulch Fire in Mesa County has grown to 1,500 acres as of Sunday.

Initially, the fire was entirely located on Bureau of Land Management lands about 15 miles north of Grand Junction. But as of Sunday, the fire started to encroach on some private lands according to Maribeth Pecotte,  BLM’s public information officer for this fire. No structures are threatened at this time. 

Pine Gulch Fire
Courtesy of Incident Information System

The fire’s spread primarily happened Saturday night into Sunday morning. It’s burning in a ridge in pinyon, juniper, oak, and sage brush in rugged terrain. 

“With the difficult terrain and the continuous fuels, it really makes it difficult for firefighters to go on a direct attack,” Pecotte said. “So they’re looking at the road system so they can indirectly maybe put fire on the ground.” 

Pine Gulch Fire
Courtesy of Incident Information System
Smoke and flames on Pine Gulch Fire in Mesa County on Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020.

There are 86 people to contain the fire Sunday in addition to three helicopter crews. Pecotte said BLM is also getting extra equipment including more water tenders, engines, and fire dozers. 

 Mesa County is experiencing drought-like conditions and there is no rain expected to come in the area over the next few days.