Fire

Saguache Emergency Management is currently monitoring a new fire start within Saguache County. Smoke was reported last night (7/30 @ 7:27 pm). Rio Grande National Forest is currently on scene. Fire Name: Fence CreekLocation: Bull Gulch, North of Poso Campground approximately 20 miles NW of La Garita.Acreage: Less than a tenth of an acre.Current Situation: "USFS anticipates containment and possible control today. No values at risk at this time". Please, avoid the area and give responders room to work. This will be the only update from Emergency Management unless the situation changes.

  What is a megafire? A megafire burns 100,000 acres or more. In 2008, there were an average of two 100,000-acre fires per year in the USA. In just 14 years, the likelihood of a megafire has increased ten-fold. The Yellowstone National Park fire of 1988 is often given as an example of one of the first megafires. One third of the Park burned. Because that fire burned over a million acres, it was technically a gigafire, also a size of fire becoming more common around the world. The Hermit Peak Fire in New Mexico is a megafire, having burned 336,638...