SALIDA — Current Situation: The Decker Fire activity was limited on Wednesday, limited by cloud cover, cooler temperatures, higher humidity, and less wind. The growth reflected in the current acreage is attributed to activity on Tuesday afternoon and evening. 

The fire crossed the ridge between Simmons Peak and Methodist Mountain into upper Bear Creek drainage on Tuesday and continued to back down the drainage on Wednesday, amounting to approximately 50 acres on the San Isabel National Forest. Crews took action on Wednesday to secure the southwest corner of the fire on the Rio Grande National Forest to limit the spread of the fire in that direction. 

Additional resources are arriving to manage the fire. An Air Resource Advisor is now assigned to the fire and will be monitoring smoke in and around local communities. Firefighters will continue to monitor the fire and work to ensure that the fire remains on national forest lands. Crews will prepare areas the Rainbow Trail and infrastructure near the fire to mitigate effects of the fire on these resources. 

Today, a Type 3 organization led by Incident Commander John Markalunas took control of the fire at 7 a.m. The Type 3 organization is better equipped to manage the increased number of resources across jurisdictional boundaries. Additional resources will be ordered as needed to accomplish the objectives of the fire.

Public information resources are now established and providing updates about the fire. Among those resources is a fire information line that is available to the public for fire updates. Please do not call 911 to report fire behavior on the Decker Fire or to request fire information. Please call 911 for emergencies only. 

Weather & Fuel Conditions: Seasonal temperatures are expected into Friday. Temperatures will reach the mid-60s and humidity is expected to remain between 24 and 29 percent. Winds are forecast to be 15-20 mph out of the southwest, and then gradually shift to the west tonight and early Thursday. Wind speeds are anticipated to slowly decrease Thursday afternoon.

Evacuations and Closures: There are no evacuations or closures at this time. Motorists are encouraged to be aware of fire traffic and possible heavy roadside activity along US 285 in the vicinity of Alder. Smoke may settle into the US Highway 50 corridor in the late afternoons or evenings. Drivers are encouraged to reduce speed near the fire if smoke affects visibility. 

Smoke: The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has issued a smoke outlook for the Decker Fire. Winds near the fire on Thursday will primarily be out of the west, transporting smoke east of the fire towards the Chaffee/Fremont County line, and could bring periods of smoke to Salida, Cleora, Wellsville, and Howard. The fire’s movement towards the east side of the ridge increases the possibility of smoke impacts in areas on the east face of this ridge.

For more information on smoke from the Decker Fire, please visit https://www.colorado.gov/airquality/colo_advisory.aspx.