On Monday, Aug. 12, the Bucktail Fire, just outside of Nucla at the base of the Uncompahgre Plateau, was contained 67 percent but had burned more than 7,200 acres. Personnel numbers were decreasing, down to 110.
USFS representatives said in a news release Monday that the “fire area stayed within its current footprint and rainfall helped reduce the fire intensity within the interior.” Rain no doubt helped over the weekend, and lingering showers were still possible Monday too.
Crews had continued to secure containment lines during the weekend, Aug. 10 and 11, as “firefighters transitioned from active suppression to repair and patrolling activities.”
The news release added that over the weekend “suppression repair efforts occurred with crews using heavy equipment and hand tools to return impacts caused by firefighting activities to a more natural state” and “some firefighters were reassigned to other wildfires in the nation needing support.”
By Monday, firefighters were cleaning up, patrolling and monitoring the Bucktail Fire perimeter. The numbers of personnel were projected to decrease dramatically in the early part of the week. Still, representatives said resources would remain on the scene to monitor the fire perimeter.
On Monday Highway 90 was open to through traffic, and by the end of that day, 25 Mesa Road was supposed to also open to through traffic. The public was asked to remain cautious, however, since active operations would remain on 25 Mesa Road with crews and heavy equipment.
Roads and trails north of Highway 90 in the fire area still remained closed on Monday, and authorities were continuing to evaluate the conditions for road reopening plans.
Since the Bucktail Fire started, Aug. 1, the West End community has graciously fed first-responders. People have donated fresh eggs, baked breakfast items and treats, and showed up to prepare, cook and clean up dinners for those working the fire.
Doylene Garvey, who has helped feed firefighters, told the Forum the experience has been amazing — but not surprising.
“Tonya (Stephens) put out a call for help, needing things, and it’s amazing how it just happens,” she said. “People organically just start showing up.”
In fact, Garvey said at one point, the cooking operation got so big that the meal prep was moved from the Nucla Fire Hall to the Nucla Community Center. A call for volunteers was issued, and before Garvey could even get to town from her family ranch, a multitude of people had rushed to the scene and handled the kitchen move.
“It’s just amazing, incredible,” she added. “They show up to do dishes and floors, and when we need treats, cookies and muffins, they come in loads — loads and loads.”
Garvey said her daughter-in-law hails from Canada, and she’s remarked that she’s not seen the type of large-scale service she’s been witnessing.
“I never doubt this community,” Garvey said. “This is what we do here.”
She’s even taken her grandkids out to help feed the firefighters. She said those on duty appreciate seeing the kids, and the children get to see what service in acton looks like.
