Editor’s note: For the most up-to-date information on the Green Ridge Fire, visit Co.Routt.Co.Us/1071/Active-Emergencies. For updated information on the Fishhook Fire, visit tinyurl.com/daevjvbf. 

Emergency personnel are continuing to battle two wildfires in Routt County that ignited within hours of each other Sunday afternoon, with containment improving on the Green Ridge Fire while the Fishhook Fire continues to grow.

The Green Ridge Fire south of Stagecoach Reservoir reached 45 acres as of Tuesday and was 45% contained, according to an update from the Colorado Type 3 Incident Management Team, which took over command of the fire response at 8 p.m. Monday. 

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The Fishhook Fire, located 1.5 miles north of U.S. Highway 40 just southeast of Steamboat Ski Resort, had spread to roughly 229 acres and was zero percent contained as of Tuesday, according to Routt National Forest Service Public Affairs Specialist Aaron Voos. 

Routt County officials issued pre-evacuation alerts for two zones near the Fishhook Fire — SS-536 and SS-372 — on Tuesday afternoon in anticipation of an anticipated forest closure. The alerts are not the result of increased fire activity, officials clarified.

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While the pre-evacuation zones are located on National Forest land and do not include any residences, recreational visitors may be present in the area and should prepare to leave immediately should conditions escalate.

The Green Ridge Fire: 45 acres, 45% contained; sheriff identifies preliminary cause

Routt County Sheriff Doug Scherar told the newspaper Tuesday that the likely cause of the Green Ridge blaze, first reported Sunday around noon, has been preliminarily identified as a tractor baling hay.

Scherar said he spoke to the tractor operator, who saw smoke and subsequent flames and reported the fire to emergency services. 

“Obviously, we have to have our investigation and have a chance to actually get in there and look and see where it happened to confirm that,” explained Scherar, “but that’s a preliminary report.” 

The timeline for when department personnel can complete the investigation depends on fire activity and containment, and when law enforcement officials can safely access the area of origin, he said.

Scherar said the response to the Green Ridge Fire is going “really, really well” and that structure protection is “looking good.” No structures have been reported as damaged or destroyed. 

The fire is currently burning in grass, brush and timber surrounding a rocky knoll above the Stagecoach neighborhood on the south side of Stagecoach Reservoir, wrote the incident management team in its Tuesday morning update. 

Drought conditions have stressed fuels in the area of the fire, according to the incident management team’s update. Over 100 personnel are assigned to the fire, the team reported.

Tuesday operations centered on securing handlines (areas from which fuels have been cleared) on the south edge of the fire, along with mop-up efforts. Crews were working to protect houses on the west side of the fire. 

On the north edge, firefighting personnel were evaluating options to “extend lines on the north and east edges to tie into rocky features that will help serve as a natural barrier.”

Extremely dry fuels accompanied by high heat warnings have created what the incident management team called a “volatile situation.”

Afternoon thunderstorms and dry lightning are possible later in the week, according to the incident team.

“The team is working closely with local and regional resources, who remain actively engaged in suppression efforts,” wrote incident team representatives. 

Team members remind members of the public that Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are in effect in Routt County as of June 23, including the the city of Steamboat Springs and the towns of Yampa, Oak Creek, Hayden and Phippsburg.

The fire has prompted evacuation orders for zone OC-528, as well as pre-evacuation orders for zones OC-521, OC-522, OC-529, OC-527, OC-531, OC-532, OC-536 and OC-537. 

Zones OC-528 and OC-536 were previously under evacuation orders. As of Monday at 9 p.m., zone OC-536 was moved back to pre-evacuation status. As of Tuesday, those orders remained in place. 

Residents in zone OC-528 are advised to leave immediately and not delay by packing belongings or preparing their homes.

Fourteen roads are closed in the Stagecoach area due to firefighting operations and should be used only by those evacuating and emergency responders, said Routt County officials. The full list of closed roads is at CO.Routt.CO.US/1071/Active-Emergencies.

This Green Ridge Fire threatened roughly 480 structures within three miles and had 20 homes under mandatory evacuation, according to a Sunday evening statement from the office of Gov. Jared Polis. 

That news release also reported that the governor had issued a verbal disaster declaration for the wildfire, which “activates the State Emergency Operations Plan and directs the Department of Public Safety and its Divisions of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) and Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) to take responsibility for all response, recovery and mitigation efforts on the Green Ridge Fire.”

The Fishhook Fire: 229 acres, 0% contained; pre-evacuation alerts issued

While growth of the Fishhook Fire had stopped short of U.S. Highway 40 on Rabbit Ears Pass as of Tuesday afternoon, the fire had progressed to within a mile of the roadway.

On Tuesday morning, Voos met with representatives from the city of Steamboat Springs, Routt County, Steamboat Ski & Resort Corp. and local emergency management. 

“The community of Steamboat has prepared for an event like this, so we’re seeing the fruits of that right now,” said Voos, who said the entities are coordinating information and resources. 

Voos said that the incident management team ordered Monday is set to arrive later Tuesday or early Wednesday, after which point there will be a transition from Forest Service command of the fire to the incident team. 

From there, that team may transition to a more complex incident management team depending on how fire activity and response unfolds over the next few days. 

“That’s the plan, just kind of scaling up the resources that we’re trying to bring into this fire,” said Voos.  

Responding personnel continue to face difficult ground access, wrote Forest Service officials. 

A mapping flight was conducted Monday afternoon, but active fire behavior has made it difficult to confirm exact acreage. A new mapping flight to verify acreage took place Tuesday. 

An area closure for the surrounding forest is in the works and is expected to be announced soon. That plan now needs adjustments due to the fire’s growth. 

The cause of the fire has not been identified, said Voos. Ground crews, who are primarily accessing the fire through Bruce’s Trailhead, “have not been able to access the origin.”

Voos said an investigation will need to be conducted to confirm the cause once the area of origin is accessible.

Voos told the newspaper Monday afternoon that a Type 1 helicopter out of Operation Sky Hammer, meant primarily for initial response, was utilized Sunday and Monday to fight the Fishhook Fire. 

Resources and information

An evacuation center remains available at Soroco High School (305 Grant Ave.) in Oak Creek from the hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

The center includes ample space for campers and vehicles and is primarily available for information and temporary necessities. It is not currently an overnight shelter.

Incident management team representatives noted that anyone needing overnight shelter should still check in at the evacuation center at Soroco High School. 

Anyone requiring assistance outside of the center’s hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. can call the Routt County non-emergency dispatch number at 970-879-1110. 

People with pets should contact the Routt County Humane Society at 970-879-7247 for sheltering assistance if needed, as animals are not allowed at the Soroco High School center.

Routt County officials remind residents who are evacuating to consider the following: 

• Essentials: Medications, important documents (i.e. IDs, insurance information, birth certificates), contact lists, a first-aid kit, flashlight, battery-powered radio and extra batteries. 
• Clothing and personal items: Include a change of clothes, sturdy shoes and personal hygiene items. 
• Food and water: Pack non-perishable food and water for a few days. 
• Pet supplies: If you have pets, pack food, water, carriers, leashes and any necessary medications. 
• Valuables: Include essential valuables like credit cards, cash and irreplaceable items like family photos. 
• If you have time, turn off the gas, electricity, and water and disconnect appliances.

Residents in pre-evacuation zones are encouraged to pack their car, keep a full gas tank and orient their vehicle in the direction of leaving. Residents are also encouraged to remain vigilant of their surroundings and stay up-to-date with official information sources as conditions change.

• To view evacuation zones in Routt County, visit tinyurl.com/4bss4p3k.
• To sign up for Routt County Alerts, visit tinyurl.com/knacnepd.

Steamboat Pilot & Today Editor Trevor Ballantyne contributed to this story.