The Review Committee’s log of radio traffic during the first two days of the Bircher Fire includes the following key points:

5:24 p.m. – Mancos Fire Department notified of a fire just below the Mancos Overlook.
5:43 p.m. – Mancos Fire Department responds with Brush 45 and Tanker 43.
5:45 p.m. – NPS notified; park ranger dispatched to investigate.
6:45 p.m. – Ranger determines fire is not in park and leaves the scene.

12:37 p.m. – Fire reported. Mancos Fire Department and call list notified. Numerous units responding.
1:04 p.m. – MFD on scene. Fire estimated at 2-4 acres.
1:05 p.m. – NPS helicopter is requested (helicopter is on a fire at Vallecito Reservoir).
Brush 45 reports that the fire "is running on us," and the fire begins to cross a tall grass field to the south.
1:17 p.m. – Single-engine air transport requested. Dozer ordered.
1:39 p.m. – Type 1 tanker requested. "We just lost it; it’s going up through the park."
1:41 p.m. – Helicopter released from Vallecito. Burnout (backfire) decision made. Additional firefighters
requested.
1:57 p.m. - 150-foot flame lengths reported. Evacuation of park requested.
2:04 p.m. – Tanker drop.
2:26 p.m. – NPS helicopter, flying over the fire, reports, "Fire units on the ground, break, break, the fire is starting to crown out behind you; it’s going to try and outflank you — it’s coming up to those structures." Fire estimated at 500 acres.

Firefighters on the ground radio: "Watch it; find a black spot" (an already burned area that would be safe).