Green Ridge Fire Threatens Stagecoach Reservoir Homes

Steamboat Springs —Why is a fire 45 miles south of Steamboat Springs demanding so much attention from local fire districts?

Because the Green Ridge Fire is sitting right on the doorstep of Stagecoach Reservoir. And because the people living in that valley are watching the smoke.

As of 10 a.m. Tuesday, the blaze had burned 45 acres. It was 45 percent contained. That containment rate sounds decent until you realize it’s a moving target. The fire started around noon Sunday. It has been burning for less than 48 hours. Yet it has already triggered a massive response.

The Colorado Type 3 Incident Management Team took command at 8 p.m. Monday. They are now running the show. The blaze is burning in grass, brush, and timber. It sits on a rocky knoll above the Stagecoach neighborhood. This is the south side of the reservoir.

Homes were threatened. They are safe. The report credits rapid response and aggressive initial attacks. That’s the good news. The bad news is that the job isn’t done.

Over 100 personnel are assigned to the fire. That’s a lot of bodies in one spot. Handcrews and engines from the Oak Creek Fire Protection District are on the ground. Neighboring fire departments are helping. Federal resources are pitching in.

The air is busy. Three Type 1 helicopters are circling. Two Large Air Tankers are dropping retardant. One Very Large Air Tanker is overhead. Two “Super Scoopers” are making water runs.

Why so much hardware? Because the fuel is stressed. The summer drought has left the area dry. The incident team calls the situation “volatile.” They are worried about flare-ups. Late afternoon winds could push the fire into unburned fuel. That would change everything.

Tuesday’s plan is simple. Secure handlines on the south edge. Do mop-up work. Protect houses on the west side. On the north edge, crews are looking for natural barriers. Rocky features might help tie lines together. If the rocks hold, the blaze holds.

The weather forecast doesn’t promise relief. Temperatures are hitting the low-90s. Relative humidity is low. Afternoon thunderstorms are possible later in the week. Dry lightning is a real threat. One spark could jump the containment lines.

High afternoon winds didn’t materialize yesterday. That helped. But don’t get comfortable.

A temporary flight restriction is in effect. That includes drones. If you fly, they can’t. Check KnowBeforeYouFly.org before you take off.

Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are in effect in Routt County as of June 23. This covers Steamboat Springs. It covers Yampa, Oak Creek, Hayden, and Phippsburg. If you’re burning wood or using equipment, check the rules.

Zone OC-528 is the only zone under evacuation orders as of Tuesday morning. Eight other zones are under pre-evacuation status. That means you might need to leave. You don’t need to pack your bags yet, but you should be ready.

The incident team thanked the agencies that provided mutual aid. The Steamboat Springs Fire Department responded quickly. The Yampa Fire Protection District was there. The USDA Forest Service Silver Creek suppression module joined the fight. The US Wildland Fire Service helped too.

“Their efforts were instrumental in keeping this fire small,” the team wrote.

Small is relative. 45 acres is small compared to the 1,000-acre blazes we saw last year. But it’s big enough to shut down roads. It’s big enough to fill the sky with smoke. It’s big enough to keep locals awake at night.

The blaze is south of Stagecoach. The smoke drifts north. If you’re in the Stagecoach neighborhood, you’re in the thick of it. If you’re in Steamboat, you’re watching the news.

The drought is the constant here. The wind is the variable. The containment is the hope.

Read that again. 45 percent contained. That means more than half the fire is still out of control. It’s still spreading. It’s still hungry.

The team is working closely with local and regional resources. They are actively engaged. They are tired. They are focused.

But the weather forecast for later in the week is the real story. Thunderstorms. Dry lightning. High heat.

If the lightning strikes, the containment lines might break. If the winds shift, the blaze will move.

That’s the reality for anyone living in Zone OC-528. Pack a bag. Keep your eyes on the sky. And don’t assume “small” means “safe.”