The Bucktail Fire, now thought to be human-caused, started Aug. 1 right outside of Nucla at the base of the southwestern slope of the Uncompaghre Plateau. Over the weekend, community members witnessed smoke, aircraft working to contain it, and traffic from first-responders of multiple agencies traveling to the area to help.
As of press time, the fire had grown to 3,738 acres and was 7 percent contained. At that time, 154 personnel were working on it, including six crews, three engines, three water tenders, three aircraft and four pieces of heavy equipment.
Some rain fell on Sunday, Aug. 4, which helped the situation, despite wind.
Monday, Day 5 of the Bucktail Fire, saw operations moving from “initial attack to a longer-term suppression effort.” Also on Monday, additional crews, including an eight-person Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control (CDFPC) fire module, were supposed to add to the fire line construction.
Throughout Sunday and Monday, two divisions of firefighters worked, with one northward, along the west side, and the other eastward, along the southeast side.
"Firefighters will continue to scout for fire line options,” the USFS news release said on Monday. “Helicopters will continue to drop water on hot spots to check the fire’s spread.”
No evacuations were in place.
Road closures exist within the area of the fire, including County Road 25 Mesa from the 25 Mesa/Divide Road intersection to where the pavement starts on 25 Mesa outside of Nucla. Houser Cow Camp Road is also closed, down to Old Highway 90.
A temporary flight restriction (TFR) is in place over the fire area. Wildfires are also a “no drone zone.”
The USFS press released added that fire managers would like to remind everyone to be attentive to their actions and surroundings, especially in areas with dry vegetation or dead/down trees.
“Preventing human-caused fires is the most important thing anyone can do to help firefighters,” they said. "Please ensure you dispose of smoking materials properly. Check for local fire restrictions. Practice smart wildfire prevention behavior, including never leaving a campfire unattended, and ensuring fires are completely out and cold. Make sure trail chains don’t drag because, every spark can start a fire.”
Jeff Stephens, the public information officer for the Nucla-Naturita Fire Department, told the Forum it’s a BLM and USFA fire, and though Nucla and Norwood fire departments initially responded, the BLM also responded at the same time, assuming command of the fire. He added local departments are in a supporting role, mainly by supplying water via tanker trucks.
He said the support has been great.
“Of special interest has been the response from local citizens in providing food and water for the firefighters,” Stephens said. “Local citizens, too numerous to name, have been working 12 hours a day and more to keep food supplied to the firefighters. Donations of food, water and money have been pouring in to support this effort. Food preparations were being done at the Nucla Fire Hall, but recently moved to the Nucla Community Center.”
He said food and water donations from local businesses and grocery stores have been very generous too.
“All the firefighters and support staff have expressed gratitude to these citizens for their efforts,” he said. “Saucy Mama's will be catering food now, but will have to hire temporary help to meet this demand.”
Tonya Stephens, local EMT, has been the point of communication for the volunteering and feeding of personnel.
