The Goose Creek Fire was reported at approximately 1:15 p.m. Sunday, June 28. The size of the fire the morning of June 30 was approximately 149 acres with 10 percent containment.

MINERAL COUNTY - The Goose Creek Fire was reported at approximately 1:15 Sunday, June 28. The fire was started by a dry lightning storm that went through the area Saturday, June 27. It is burning several miles west of the Town of South Fork and 13 miles south of the town of Creede.

The fire is burning in steep and rugged terrain near the top of the slope in the Goose Creek drainage, south of Lake Humphreys. Helicopters are conducting numerous water drops on the fire when weather permits. Currently total personnel fighting the blaze is 85. The primary focus now is on point protection. These points can mean values at risk such as private property, infrastructure, or key fuel areas that may be problematic when burning. The private land to the north is being taken into consideration.

Crews are scouting for control opportunities which may include line construction, use of natural features such as cliffs and bodies of water, and vegetation or aspect variances.
The size of the fire the morning of June 30 was approximately 149 acres with 10 percent containment.

The Rio Grande National Forest is currently under Stage 2 fire restrictions due to 0 percent of normal snowpack and severe drought conditions.

The following acts are prohibited on all National Forest System lands within the Rio Grande National Forest located within Alamosa, Archuleta, Conejos, Hinsdale, Mineral Rio Grande, Saguache and San Juan Counties, State of Colorado, (“the Restricted Area”) and on all roads and trails located with the Restricted Area.

The purpose of this Order is to protect public health, safety, and natural resources by preventing wildfires.

PROHIBITIONS: This Order prohibits the following acts in the Restricted Area:
Igniting, building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, including fires in developed recreation sites (campgrounds and picnic areas), charcoal grills and barbecues, coal and wood burning stoves, and sheepherder’s stoves.

Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, trailer or building.

Blasting, welding, or operating acetylene or other torch with open flame.

Operating or using any internal combustion engine without an effective and properly installed USDA- or Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)- approved spark arrestor.

Operating a chain saw without an effective and properly installed USDA- or SAE- approved spark arrestor, a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher (with a minimum of 8 oz. capacity and rating of 2A) kept with the operator and a round point shovel with an overall length of at least 35 inches readily available for use.

Using an explosive. This includes but is not limited to fuses, blasting caps, fireworks, rockets, exploding targets, tracers and incendiary ammunition.

Possessing or using a motor vehicle off established roads, motorized trails or established parking areas, except when parking in an area devoid of vegetation within 10 feet of the vehicle.