HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Fire Department started receiving requests for assistance from Idaho, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Colorado yesterday as wildfires were blowing up throughout the south and western United States.
Hutchinson’s wildfire team ended up on an assignment in Pagosa Springs, Colo., and are currently assigned to the Quartz Ridge Fire.
Firefighter Brent Fisher is leading the team. Fisher serves as Hutchinson’s Fire certified Engine Boss. Joining him are two of Hutchinson’s Fire Captains, Craig Walle and Matt Brooks.
Captain Walle is in the final leg of obtaining his Engine Boss Certification with this deployment.
Crews departed last night. The Hutchinson Fire Department will provide updates on the crew and information comes in.
The HFD expects a busy August, September, and October for wildfires in the west as dry conditions continue. To stay informed with their latest updates, you can follow their Facebook Page.
In a Sunday afternoon update the Pagosa Sun shared:
Sunday afternoon update:
The 19-acre Quartz Ridge Fire is burning approximately three miles into the South San Juan Wilderness. Firefighters are unable to directly engage the fire due to fire behavior, the remote location, and the risk associated with the terrain and working in dead and down trees. Fire managers are developing a strategic plan to suppress it should the fire move into terrain where we have the ability to engage. The fire, while highly visible from Pagosa Springs, is expected to remain in a very remote location in the South San Juan Wilderness. The Quartz Ridge Trail is closed to the public (#570).
