Crews make headway on containing Schwachheim fire as they prevent further growth
Despite the highest winds experienced so far, containment lines have continued to hold for the Schwachheim fire burning near Trinidad, officials reported Saturday.
Containment lines were tested amid the high winds Friday, but a Saturday morning update from Colorado’s Type 3 Incident Management Team states containment has grown to 63%.
Discovered on Sunday, April 12, the blaze has burned 1,012 acres within the Lake Dorothey State Wildlife Area, southeast of Trinidad near the Colorado-New Mexico state line. While navigating steep, rugged terrain, crews have prevented further spread of the fire since Wednesday, when it was at 1,003 acres.
Crews are still mopping up remaining hot spots on the fire’s south side. The entire east side of the fire along Schwachheim Creek has been contained, according to the latest update.
Only the northwest side of the fire remains fully uncontained due to the terrain. If weather permits Saturday, firefighters aim to execute hand-firing operations in the area in the afternoon and on Sunday.
The crews will use low-intensity burning to move the fire into terrain that is easier and safer for firefighters to suppress.
Officials are prioritizing firefighter safety as they navigate the blaze, said Tracy LeClair, a spokesperson for the Wildland Fire Management Section of the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control.
A Friday freeze aided firefighters in their suppression efforts as temperatures dropped into the teens, and snow was reported in higher elevations. Even with precipitation tapering off overnight, frost and some snow accumulation are expected to remain until Saturday afternoon, according to the update.
Humidity values have also slightly increased into the mid-teens. Sub-freezing temperatures will be possible again overnight.
Officials said the weather has “moderated” the fire’s behavior, limiting its activity for the last two days.
The Lake Dorothey State Wildlife Area remains closed until further notice. Stage 2 fire restrictions are still in effect for Las Animas County. The wildlife area is still under a no-fly zone restriction.