Bucktail Fire
{{Short description|2024 wildfire in Colorado}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox wildfire|date={{Unbulleted list|{{Start date|2024|08|1}} – Present}}|area={{convert|7202|acre|ha sqmi km2|0}}|fatalities=0|injuries=0|percent_contained=83%|cause=Accidental ignition|year=2024|season_name=2024 Colorado wildfires|season_year=2024 Colorado wildfires|is_season=2024 Colorado wildfires|season=2024 Colorado wildfires|location=Montrose County, Colorado|image=File:Bucktailfire.jpeg|caption=The smoke plume from the fire, as seen on the night of August 2}}The Bucktail Fire was a wildfire in August 2024 that has burned through {{Convert|7,202|acre|ha}} of land in Montrose County in the U.S. state of Colorado. It began on August 1. It is currently the second-largest wildfire to ignite during the 2024 Colorado wildfire season. Local law enforcement criminally charged a man with accidentally starting the fire during an attempt to cremate his dog.{{cite news|url= https://www.gjsentinel.com/news/western_colorado/affidavit-attempt-to-cremate-dog-sparked-west-end-fire/article_14e62c5c-7138-11ef-927b-e35bb84e757d.amp.html|title= Affidavit: Attempt to cremate dog sparked West End fire|date=16 September 2024}}
Progression
The fire started at 11:30 AM on August 1 approximately six miles north of Nucla,{{Cite web |last=Petelo |first=Aiga |date=2024-08-09 |title=Update: Bucktail fire grows over 7,000 acres |url=https://www.kjct8.com/2024/08/09/bucktail-fire-burning-near-nucla-continues-burn/ |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=KJCT |language=en}} and by August 2 the fire had reached {{Convert|1760|acre|ha}}. It was observed burning into pine groves and other forested areas that were unpopulated.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-19 |title=Single Publication {{!}} InciWeb |url=https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-publication/coupd-bucktail-fire/fire-update-08-02-2024 |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=inciweb.wildfire.gov |language=en}} Later on August 2, the fire had again grown to {{Convert|2046|acre|ha}}, and a helitack was assigned to extinguish the fire.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-19 |title=Single Publication {{!}} InciWeb |url=https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-publication/coupd-bucktail-fire/august-2-2024-bucktail-fire-update-08-02-2024 |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=inciweb.wildfire.gov |language=en}} By the evening of August 3, the fire had reached 5% containment while a total of 144 personnel worked to contain the fire. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment issued an Air Quality Health Advisory for Montrose County on the same day, as a result of smoke from the fire.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-19 |title=Single Publication {{!}} InciWeb |url=https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-publication/coupd-bucktail-fire/bucktail-fire-update-august-3-2024-7pm-08-03-2024 |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=inciweb.wildfire.gov |language=en}}
The fire gained 200 acres in coverage throughout August 4, and containment was kept at 5% while 154 personnel worked on the fire. County Road 25 Mesa and Houser Cow Camp Road were closed due to the fire.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-19 |title=Single Publication {{!}} InciWeb |url=https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-publication/coupd-bucktail-fire/bucktail-fire-update-august-4-2024-08-04-2024 |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=inciweb.wildfire.gov |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-08-13 |title=Rain reduces intensity of Bucktail Fire over the weekend into Monday, helps firefighters keep it under control |url=https://www.denver7.com/news/wildfire/rain-reduces-intensity-of-bucktail-fire-over-the-weekend-into-monday-helps-firefighters-keep-it-under-control |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=Denver 7 Colorado News (KMGH) |language=en}} On August 5, containment on the fire reached 7% as crews continued construction on fire lines bordering the northwest side of the fire.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-19 |title=Single Publication {{!}} InciWeb |url=https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-publication/coupd-bucktail-fire/bucktail-fire-update-august-5-2024-08-05-2024 |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=inciweb.wildfire.gov |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Mitchell |first=Wylee |date=2024-08-05 |title=The Bucktail Fire in Nucla has burned over 3,000 acres |url=https://www.kjct8.com/2024/08/05/bucktail-fire-nucla-has-burned-over-3000-acres/ |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=KJCT |language=en}} The fire had reached {{Convert|3788|acre|ha}} in coverage on August 6, while fire lines were retained around the fire. Containment had reached 10% on the same day, while the number of crews assigned to the fire decreased to 134.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-19 |title=Single Publication {{!}} InciWeb |url=https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-publication/coupd-bucktail-fire/bucktail-fire-update-august-6-2024-08-06-2024 |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=inciweb.wildfire.gov |language=en}}
On August 7, the fire grew to {{Convert|4155|acre|ha}}, and the number of personnel assigned to the fire jumped to 193.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-19 |title=Single Publication {{!}} InciWeb |url=https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-publication/coupd-bucktail-fire/bucktail-fire-update-august-7-2024-08-07-2024 |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=InciWeb |language=en-US}} By August 8, crews had finished the fire lines on the northwestern side of the fire,{{Cite web |date=2024-09-19 |title=Single Publication {{!}} InciWeb |url=https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-publication/coupd-bucktail-fire/bucktail-fire-update-august-8-2024-08-08-2024 |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=inciweb.wildfire.gov |language=en}} and on August 9 the fire reached {{Convert|7177|acre|ha}},{{Cite web |date=2024-09-19 |title=Single Publication {{!}} InciWeb |url=https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-publication/coupd-bucktail-fire/bucktail-fire-update-august-9-2024-08-09-2024 |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=inciweb.wildfire.gov |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-08-09 |title=Bucktail Fire grows to 7,177 acres due to firefighting methods |url=https://www.denver7.com/news/wildfire/bucktail-fire-grows-to-7-177-acres-due-to-firefighting-methods |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=Denver 7 Colorado News (KMGH) |language=en}} and on August 10 it had reached {{Convert|7202|acre|ha}}, its maximum size.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-19 |title=Single Publication {{!}} InciWeb |url=https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-publication/coupd-bucktail-fire/bucktail-fire-update-08-10-2024 |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=inciweb.wildfire.gov |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-08-10 |title=Colorado wildfire update: Bucktail fire in Montrose County doubles in size, chars more than 7,200 acres |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2024/08/10/colorado-wildfires-bucktail-fire-montrose-county-nucla-uncompahgre-national-forest/ |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=The Denver Post |language=en-US}} Large advancements were made on the fire from August 10 to August 11, and by the following day containment had reached 60%, aided by 121 personnel.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-19 |title=Single Publication {{!}} InciWeb |url=https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-publication/coupd-bucktail-fire/bucktail-fire-update-08-11-2024 |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=inciweb.wildfire.gov |language=en}} By August 12, containment reached 67%,{{Cite web |date=2024-09-19 |title=Single Publication {{!}} InciWeb |url=https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-publication/coupd-bucktail-fire/bucktail-fire-update-08-12-2024 |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=inciweb.wildfire.gov |language=en}} and the fire is estimated to be fully contained by September 30.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-19 |title={{!}} InciWeb |url=https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/coupd-bucktail-fire |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=inciweb.wildfire.gov |language=en}}