The Decker Fire, burning in the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness Area in the San Luis Valley 9 miles south of Salida, is now listed at 846 acres, a jump up from 355 acres going into the weekend. 

The Decker Fire moved through heavy beetle kill and down fuels and was spurred by low humidity, warmer temperatures and consistent winds on Saturday accounting for the rapid growth. Smoke filled the Upper Arkansas River Valley, the San Luis Valley and the Wet Mountain Valley prompting Air Quality Alerts.   

The fire remains on national forest lands and primarily in the Wilderness.

Crews will continue to monitor the fire and allowing fire to play its natural role to promote forest health and resiliency. 

A crew completed work to clear fuels from around the communications site on Methodist Mountain. 

A Type 3 helicopter from Montana remains assigned to the incident and remains available, should the need arise. 

The fire is expected to continue flanking south towards the Oxcart Fire burn scar today as well as slowly working north along the ridge towards the peak of Methodist Mountain. 

The fire is visible from Salida and the Highway 50 corridor.

There are no evacuations or closures at this time.        

Lightning started the fire September 8.

Updated information will be released and available on Heart of the Rockies Radio News at 12 noon along with updates as they are made available on our Facebook page and www.heartoftherockiesradio.com.    

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Dan R

Danny “Dan R” Ridenour has been in radio and television broadcasting for over 40 years, starting as a senior in high school in Rogers, Arkansas. His radio career has had stops in Nashville, Memphis, Oklahoma, and eventually, Colorado. Dan enjoys being involved in the community, having been a member of the Upper Arkansas Service Club and is currently on the board of directors for the Salida Community Center and is a member of the Chaffee County Fair Committee. He and his wife Carrie spend their days doing everything the mountains have to offer: hiking, camping, fishing and skiing. They've raised 3 children and have 2 grandchildren.

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