Pagosa Country has continued to experience warm, dry weather over the last week, with multiple fires caused by lightning being combated by fire management officials and smoke from regional fires continuing to move into the area.
The conditions led to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) announcing on Monday, July 14, that fire restrictions on the San Juan National Forest would be expanded the following day.
On Wednesday, the USFS listed the fire danger for the upper elevations of the San Juan National Forest at high, and at very high for the lower elevations.
Little Devil Fire
One of the lightning-caused fires tended to by fire officials from multiple area organizations this week was the Little Devil Fire, which was located in the area to the north of the Devil Creek State Wildlife Area and of the Ute Campground along U.S. 160.
The USFS responded to the fire, which began Monday, July 14, with air and ground resources and reported that evening that hand line had been completed around the 7.5-acre fire.
The following morning, the agency reported the containment line held overnight, with mop-up operations taking place that day.
“An aggressive aerial response yesterday allowed firefighters on the ground to engage successfully and keep the fire footprint small,” the agency wrote in a Tuesday update. “Large Air Tankers dropped two loads of retardant on the quickly expanding fire, and a helicopter inserted firefighters to begin digging hand line.”
According to the USFS, resources on the fire include two helicopters, three hand crews, two engines and a Helitack crew.
San Juan National Forest expands fire restrictions
The USFS announced Monday that San Juan National Forest fire management staff were implementing Stage I fire restrictions on all National Forest System lands within the San Juan National Forest, including wilderness, beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, July 15.
The San Juan National Forest previously implemented restrictions only at lower elevations.
“Due to the extended drying trend, higher elevations are becoming vulnerable to wildfire and restrictions will now encompass the entire forest,” the Monday press release on the restrictions states, adding later, “Southwest Colorado is in extended drought with continued hot, dry weather creating a critical fire environment.”
The minimum fine for violating campfire restrictions in Stage I is $530 in Colorado, it notes.
Stage 1 fire restrictions on the San Juan National Forest prohibit:
• Igniting, building, maintaining, attending or using a fire (including fires fueled by charcoal or briquettes), except if it is in:
A permanent metal or concrete fire pit or grate that the U.S. Forest Service has installed and maintained at its developed recreation sites (campgrounds and picnic areas);
A device solely fueled by liquid or gas that can be turned on and off used in an area barren or cleared of all flammable materials within 3 feet of the device; or
A fully enclosed metal stove with a chimney at least 5 feet in length and a mesh screen spark arrestor with a screen opening of a ¼ inch or less used in an area that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials within 10 feet of the device.
• Using an explosive.
• Smoking is prohibited, except in an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least 3 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.
• Welding, or operating acetylene or other torch with open flame, except if in a cleared area of at least 10 feet in diameter and a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher (with a minimum 8-ounce capacity and rating of Class 2A) is kept with the operator.
Temporary restrictions will remain in place until further notice and may be increased or reduced at any time due to changes in weather and fire danger.
To learn more about fire restrictions, fuels management and other wildfire related issues, visit the USFS’s fire information page, www.fs.usda.gov/r02/sanjuan/fire.
The agency further notes that violations are punishable as a Class B misdemeanor by a fine of not more than $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations and/or by imprisonment for not more than six months.
Fire prevention and law enforcement will be patrolling, and anyone who violates Stage 1 restrictions will be ticketed, it adds.
To report a fire, call 911. For information on the San Juan National Forest, call (970) 247-4874 or visit the forest website.
Bureau of Land Management lands managed by the Tres Rios Field office, including lands in Archuleta County, are also under Stage 1 restrictions.
Chance of storms
continues
The National Weather Service (NWS) forecast shows continued chances for thunderstorms in the coming days, with the outlook for July 21-25 then showing chances of above-average temperatures and near normal to below normal probability for precipitation.
For today, Thursday, July 17, the NWS predicts showers and thunderstorms, mainly after noon, with a high near 83 and areas of smoke in the afternoon. The chance of precipitation is 80 percent.
The NWS forecasts that showers are likely and a thunderstorm is possible before midnight, then a slight chance of showers following that. The low is forecast to be around 48. The chance of precipitation is listed at 70 percent.
Showers and thunderstorms are likely Friday, July 18, mainly after noon, according to the NWS. The forecast calls for partly sunny skies with a high near 83 and a chance of precipitation of 70 percent.
The forecast for Friday night shows a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight with a low around 50.
The forecast for Saturday shows a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after noon, with mostly sunny skies and a high near 82.
The forecast shows a chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight Saturday night with partly cloudy skies a low around 48.
The forecast shows a chance of showers and thunderstorms Sunday and Sunday night with a high near 84 and a low around 47.
Drought
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, all of Archuleta County continued to be in drought as of July 8 — the most recent drought map available.
The northwest portion of the county is listed as being in moderate drought, 82.28 percent of the county is listed as being in severe drought and 10.64 percent of the eastern portion of the county continues to be listed as being in extreme drought.
It notes, “The Drought Monitor focuses on broad-scale conditions. Local conditions may vary.”
One year ago, no portion of the county was in drought.
River conditions
The San Juan River in Pagosa Springs was running at 35.3 cubic feet per second (cfs) as of 9 a.m. on Wednesday, July 16, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
The July 16 median streamflow for July 9 is 182 cfs, according to the USGS, with the mean flow for the same date being 286 cfs.
According to 89 years of data, the lowest river flow on July 9 came in 2002, when the river’s streamflow was at 13.3 cfs.
The highest streamflow for that date came in 1995, when the river was at 1,520 cfs.
randi@pagosasun.com
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