Interagency Cooperation is Key to Wildland Fire Response in Northern Colorado and Utah

Aerial view of DINO HQ Fire

On the afternoon of August 21, 2019, a visitor reported a wildfire directly north of U.S. Route 40, adjacent to the Dinosaur National Monument’s Canyon Visitor Center and headquarters.

“The DINO HQ Fire could have gotten a lot bigger before being contained if it weren’t for the prompt collaborative response from several agencies across two states,” said Fire Operations Specialist Mike Guarino.

Shortly after the initial report came in, multiple agencies were dispatched through both Craig Interagency Dispatch Center in Colorado and Uintah Basin Interagency Fire Center in Utah. Resources responded from Dinosaur National Monument; Bureau of Land Management (Colorado and Utah); Moffat County, Colorado, Fire and Sherriff’s Office; Vernal, Utah, Fire Department; and the volunteer fire departments of Artesia and Rangely, Colorado, and Jensen, Utah.

NPS Engine 683 out of Dinosaur National Monument was the first resource on scene and immediately began the evacuation of the monument’s visitor center and headquarters, established an incident command structure, and began suppressing the fast moving fire that was burning in sagebrush and grass.

Within the first hour, interagency resources began to arrive, engaging in suppression efforts, and setting up structure protection. At this time the local park service type 4 incident commander was able to transfer command of the incident to a type 3 incident commander from BLM.

Aviation resources also responded to the incident, including multiple single engine air tankers, and eventually one large air tanker. The fire staff were able to utilize these aviation resources to protect the monument’s visitor center and headquarters area as well as a large ranch house in the path of the fire to the east.

Area burned by DINO HQ Fire

By nightfall, the fire was contained at 163 acres and had burned on both sides of Route 40. No structures were lost, no injuries occurred, and resulting power outages lasted for only a few days.

The collaboration and quick responses of the several agencies contributed to the success to this incident. All of the agencies played key roles in quick initial attack, public safety, and extended suppression activities.

“All the agencies have similar missions to manage fire for both the benefit of the resource and the people who live in our community,” noted Guarino. “By working together with our partners during incidents such as this, we are able to provide a much better coordinated service across our region.”