Pine Ridge Fire Update - 8:45 PM, June 29, 2012
Firefighters doubled their containment on the Pine Ridge Fire and halted its advance at the Colorado River. Containment now stands at 10%.
The fire's growth was slowed significantly today; however, exact figures will not be available until after a crew conducts infrared analysis tonight. Three unoccupied tents and campers were destroyed when the fire crossed Mustang Ranch Thursday. Cost of the lost structures is unknown. The area is unsafe for owners of those structures to return at this time.
Crews built on overnight success by adding containment on the westernmost portion of the fire near its origin referred to as the fire's heel. Firefighters hope to advance on the footholds created by their containment. Crews from Saskatchewan provided much needed fire retardant today from two air tankers and a spotter airplane owned by the Canadian government. A total of four air tankers provided support today.
A Type 1 Incident crew has arrived and will assume responsibility of fighting this blaze at 6:00 a.m. Saturday. The Rocky Mountain Type 1 Team will begin operations led by the former Incident Commander of the High Park Fire.
There are currently no new evacuations or pre-evacuation orders in place.
For information about preparing for possible evacuations, log on to www.sheriff.mesacounty.us or visit http://www.inciweb.org/incident/2951/ for more information regarding the fire.