Skipper Island Fire

Antonio Archuleta Photo ©

The Lower Valley Fire District was dispatched to a report of a brush fire near I-70 MM 18 WB on Skippers Island on April 19th, 2018. Crews arrived to find a fire growing in size on the island and call for additional resources. The Mesa County Sheriff Wildland Fire Team was dispatched at 19:23 to assist as well as Grand Junction Fire Department. As of Wednesday night, the fire was estimated at 12 acres, by Thursday morning it was estimated at nearly 50 acres on the island alone. Thursday afternoon around 1400 hours the fire was pushed by wind and began burning rapidly toward I-70 prompting a full shut down of the interstate. Crews were able to control the fire before it torched too much to north side of the river. As of 1600 the fire continued to burn in heavy fuels. At 16:30 Clifton Fire and Sheriff Engine 126 were dispatched to assist in the efforts of suppressing the fire. At approximately 18:30 the north side of the fire flared up causing a spot fire in heavy fuels. The fire was pushed West by the strong winds and began making a run through the wash and additional fuels back toward the interstate prompting another closure. At 18:45 command requested a county wide mutual aide response. County agencies responded to assist in suppression efforts and staging was set up at the Fruita Co-Op. Command was unified and IDT brought in the mobile communication truck. The majority of mutual aid resources were released between 23:30 and 0030. Efforts continued into mop-up on Friday and overhaul on Saturday.

Initial Dispatch:

Lower Valley Fire District: Chief 31, Brush 31, Brush 32 & Tender 32

Mesa County Sheriff Wildland Fire Team: Engine 103, Engine 102 & 2220

Grand Junction Fire Department: Brush 5

Day 2:

Lower Valley Fire District: Chief 31, Engine 31, Engine 32, Brush 31, Brush 32, Tender 31, Tender 32 & ATV 32

Mesa County Sheriff Wildland Fire Team: Engine 103, Engine 102, Engine 126, 2220 & Emergency Manager

Mutual-Aid Resources:

Grand Junction Fire Department: Engine 3, Engine 5 & Brush 4

De Beque Fire Protection District: Chief 81, Engine 82, Brush 81 & UTV 81

Palisade Fire Protection District: Brush 41

Plateau Valley Fire Protection District: Chief 91 & Brush 91