Bear Dance Fire breaks out on Southern Ute Reservation

Friday - June 3, 2022 by Lindsay Box | Council Affairs
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Aviation resources were immediately called in at the start of the fire, which included multiple helicopters, single engine air tankers or SEATs, and a large, fixed wing air tanker — which dropped slurry to suppress the fire on the northern most edge, Friday, June 3.
Additional resources from Durango Fire Protection District and Los Piños Fire Protection assisted on the attack, Friday afternoon, June 3.
The Bear Dance Fire consumed 89 acres along the Pine River, just east of SunUte Park and north past Scott’s Pond, spread by high winds, Friday afternoon, June 3.
The CH-47 Chinook heavy lift helicopter drops water over the blaze, Friday, June 3, before circling back to Scott’s Pond where air support had immediate access to refill water — giving firefighters an edge in suppressing the Bear Dance Fire.
The CH-47 Chinook heavy lift helicopter drops water over the blaze, Friday, June 3, before circling back to Scott’s Pond where air support had immediate access to refill water — giving firefighters an edge in suppressing the Bear Dance Fire.
Additional resources from Durango Fire Protection District and Los Piños Fire Protection assisted on the attack, Friday afternoon, June 3.
Additional resources from Durango Fire Protection District and Los Piños Fire Protection assisted on the attack, Friday afternoon, June 3.
BIA Southern Ute Agency, Fire Management Officer, Rich Gustafson checks in on multiple fire crews at the onset of the Bear Dance Fire, Friday, June 3.
The BIA, Southern Ute Agency, Southern Ute Indian Tribe, and Los Piños Fire crews were onsite Friday afternoon, and throughout the weekend aided by Hot Shot crews and regional air support.
The CH-47 Chinook heavy lift helicopter drops water over the blaze, Friday, June 3, before circling back to Scott’s Pond where air support had immediate access to refill water — giving firefighters an edge in suppressing the Bear Dance Fire.
Flames rise from the underbrush as cottonwoods and willows burn in the forested areas south of Scott’s Pond, Friday, June 3.
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
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UPDATE | Sunday, June 5, 2022

Personnel have kept the fire to 89 acres and is now 40% contained. Smoke may be visible in the area and may lead to poor air quality. To observe the air quality status, please visit the Southern Ute Indian Tribe’s Air Quality Ambient Monitor page at https://www.southernute-nsn.gov/justice-andregulatory/epd/air-quality/ambient-monitoring/ Crews continue working on the fire’s perimeter.

Personnel are also maintaining and improving hazardous recreational areas for future use. No structures have been lost and no injuries were reported. The reservation remains in Stage I Fire Restrictions. Drones are strictly prohibited in the fire area.

UPDATE | Saturday, June 4, 2022

The Bear Dance Fire started at approximately 12:23 p.m. on June 3. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The fire has burned approximately 89 acres and is 0% contained. Smoke may be visible in the area and may lead to poor air quality.

Crews are working to dig fire lines around the perimeter of the fire. No structures have been lost and no injuries were reported. The reservation remains in Stage I Fire Restrictions. Drones are strictly prohibited in the fire area.

Resources ordered for Bear Dance Fire | Friday, June 3, 2022

The Bear Dance Fire started today, June 3, 2022 shortly after 12:00 p.m. The fire originated behind the Bear Dance Campground in the brush and cottonwood and spread north along the Pine River. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

Bureau of Indian Affairs, Southern Ute Agency Fire Management has called in a BIA led Type-3 Team to respond as well as two local Hot Shot crews and several entities. Additional resources from Durango Fire Protection District and Los Piños Fire Protection are also assisting on the attack. Aviation resources were immediately called in and include two helicopters and an airtanker. No structures have been lost.

Crew are working to keep the fire within the river bottom and keep structures safe, digging fire line from the anchor point to the fire’s perimeter edge. The fire is estimated around 20 acres. The next few hours are crucial and winds contribute to the fire spread.

The Southern Ute tribal campus has been evacuated. Housing developments along CR 517 and homes along CR 516 north towards Sundance Road are in pre-evacuation.

La Plata Electric Association has disconnected power to the Ignacio area. Resident should expect to remain out of power for several hours and a minimum of 4 hours.

Smoke is visible from the CO Hwy 172 and CR 517 and CR 321. Individuals should avoid County Roads 517, 518, and 516. Smoke will be visible to the local communities. For information related to air quality, please go to: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health

The Tribe is also working with oil and gas operators in the area to shut-in facilities in the vicinity of the fire to mitigate any potential impact from those operators to first responder’s ability to contain the fire.

As a reminder, Stage 1 fire restrictions were enacted for Southern Ute Indian Reservation on Friday, May 20, 2022 and will remain in effect until conditions improve.

Stage I Fire Restrictions prohibits acts for the general public, commercial operators and industrial oil and gas operators performing work on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation.

STAGE I

General Public:

Prohibited acts:

1.                   OPEN BURNING.  Burning of trash and/or yard waste is prohibited.

2.                   AGRICULTURAL BURNING.  Burning of crop land, fields, rangeland, debris burning, slash piles, prescribed burning and weed burning are prohibited.

3.                   CAMP FIRES.  Building, maintaining or using a warming fire or campfire outside of officially designated or developed camp sites is prohibited.  The fire restrictions do not include charcoal fires (in suitable containers) for barbeques or fires for sweat ceremonies, however, such fires are not to be left unattended and are to be fully extinguished after use.

4.                   FIREWORKS.  Possession, discharging or use of any type or fireworks is prohibited.

Commercial and Industrial restrictions can be obtained from the BIA Fire Office at 575 County Road 517 or by calling (970) 563-4571.

Anyone violating the provisions of this fire ban may be subject to prosecution outlined in the Southern Ute Indian Criminal Code.

For more information on the North Cinder Butte Area Fires, please visit the Southern Ute Indian Tribe website, and follow the Southern Ute Indian Tribe on social media.

To report fires contact:      

DURANGO ZONE DISPATCH (970) 385-1324

For more info or to report Fire Restriction Violations contact:

BIA FIRE MANAGEMENT (970) 563-4571 OR SOUTHERN UTE POLICE DEPARTMENT (970) 563-4401

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