Ash plume mistaken for fire on Monday in Missouri Heights likely from Coulter Creek burn scar

What appeared to be a swirling smoke column over a Carbondale neighborhood on Tuesday afternoon turned out not to be a new wildfire, Carbondale and Rural Fire Protection District officials said.

Fire crews were paged at 2:51 p.m. to a report of smoke in the Missouri Heights area. From fire station cameras, it resembled a plume, and responding crews initially believed it could be a fire.

“When we had crews en route, they were watching it, and it disappeared,” Carbondale and Rural Fire Protection District Public Information Officer Jenny Cutright said. “Once they got up in the area and realized there was no fire, they determined it was likely ash kicked up in the wind, making it look like a fire.”

The ash was most likely from the Coulter Creek Fire, which ignited Sunday, Aug. 3, in the Missouri Heights area and burned 107 acres before being declared 100% contained by 4 p.m. Monday, Aug. 4.

Firefighters from Carbondale and Rural Fire Protection District and partner agencies attacked the Coulter Creek Fire with ground crews, helicopters and air tankers. One outbuilding was lost, but no homes were damaged and no injuries were reported. The fire temporarlily closed County Road 113.

Officials posted on Facebook Tuesday to assure residents they were aware of the plume after receiving multiple calls to dispatch and the fire station.