Update, 12:40 p.m., Aug. 5:
The Archuleta County Sheriff's Office, in coordination with the Rio Blanco Fire Incident Management Team and Archuleta County Emergency Management, has officially lifted the level 1 pre-evacuation order for Zone 3 (including county roads 337, 339 and the Pinon Hills subdivision, including residences from mile marker 12.8 along County Road 500), effective immediately.
Firefighters have made notable progress on containment and perimeter lines, significantly reducing the immediate threat to homes and structures in the Zone 3 area.
The mandatory evacuation orders or remaining pre-evacuation orders for adjacent areas (such as Lower Blanco/County Road 335) remain in effect as firefighting operations continue.
Update, 9:31 a.m., Aug. 5:
Update, 8:26 a.m., Aug. 5:
Update, 8:13 p.m., Aug. 4:
Update, 1 p.m., Aug. 4:
Update, 11 a.m., Aug. 4:
Update, 9:45 p.m., Aug. 3:
Over the last couple of days, Crew 307 was assigned to Division R, hand cutting a contingency line down a ridge east of Archuleta Canyon. The saw team removed oak brush and trees ahead of "the dig," the women and men who use hand tools to manually dig fireline, cutting through grass and roots down to bare mineral soil. Removing a broad swath of vegetation reduces fire intensity near the hand line so that fire cannot spot across.
Today, this contingency line was completed, tying into a dozer line up high and hand lines in the Lower Blanco, plumbed with hose lays along private property with the objective of creating a continuous boundary that will contain the fire.
Update, 5:31 p.m., Aug. 3:
Update, 11:09 a.m., Aug. 3:
Update, 8:40 a.m., Aug. 3:
More resources continue to arrive. This morning an update was given on night operations, today's weather, predicted fire behavior, safety, logistics, and a plan was prepared for day operations. Fire briefings are structured meetings where the incident commander and additional resource leaders inform all personnel about the operational situation, objectives and safety requirements for the upcoming work period. It’s a critical step in ensuring everyone knows what, why, when, where, and how to perform their tasks. A well-conducted briefing can prevent accidents, improve coordination and ensure success. It’s a tactical and safety advantage that prepares crews for the realities of the fire on the ground.
Update, 9:39 p.m, Aug. 2:
Today, firefighters continued to make good progress on the Rio Blanco Fire, which was last mapped at 1,081 acres. Crews spent the day building hand line near Archuleta Canyon and increasing dozer and hand line along Frio Canyon. Helicopters also made water drops to support crews working to keep the fire from spreading farther west. As they dug line today against the fire's edge, firefighters burned out small pockets of unburned fuel to prevent them from burning later under high-intensity conditions. This strategy gives firefighters more control over the fire's spread, keeping flame lengths close to the ground and therefore less likely to jump the line.
Update, 5:21 p.m., Aug. 2:
The firefighters will continue Night Operations on the Rio Blanco fire this evening. In response to operations tonight, power to structures along Rainbow Rd, Aspen Rd, Meadowbrook Pl, Maple Glen Pl, and Pine Crest Dr will be de-energized for a period of time, starting between 7:30 – 8:00 PM this evening.
This will be in coordination with the Incident Team and La Plata Electric Association (LPEA). Power to these residences will be restored at the earliest and safest opportunity. Below is a link from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment related to food safety during a power outage.
https://cdphe.colorado.gov/press-release/state-health-officials-remind-coloradans-to-keep-food-safe-during-power-outages-due
Update, 11:08 a.m., Aug. 2:
Acres: 1,069 | Containment: 10% | Reported: 07/28/26 | Cause: Lightning | Personnel: 335
Community Meeting: A community meeting will be held Tuesday, Aug. 4, at 6 p.m. at the Archuleta County Extension Office, 344 US 84. Speakers will include the Archuleta County sheriff and Rio Blanco Fire Incident Management Team members. Following a short presentation, there will be an opportunity to gather around maps with incident and county personnel to ask questions one-on-one. Virtual streaming will be available on Facebook via the San Juan National Forest page. A Facebook account will not be required to view the presentation.
Current Situation: The Rio Blanco Fire is burning approximately 12 miles south of Pagosa Springs, CO, south of Eightmile Mesa. Saturday, outflow winds from a passing thunderstorm pushed fire west into Frio Canyon but not directly toward homes. Airtankers dropped retardant to slow the spread as crews scouted options for engagement and continued constructing fireline. On the fire’s southern flank, along Forest Road 653 and 653.B, fire behavior increased with outflow winds, but the established containment lines held.
Crews set up pumps, hoses, and sprinklers, and constructed fireline south of the communities in Lower Blanco, in preparation for fire continuing the back down the rim. Throughout the day yesterday, some “fingers” of fire were moving downslope more rapidly than others, increasing the chances that fire could make powerful uphill runs in the adjacent unburned vegetation. To reduce this risk of uphill runs, which could throw embers and start spot fires throughout the Lower Blanco, a drone was used for aerial ignitions to straighten out the head of the fire into a continuous line. Shortly after dark, a specialized team of drone pilots flew their Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) along the rim and filled in the unburned patches in a slow, intentional manner, with firefighters on the ground ready to intervene, if needed. Performing firing operations in this way kept fire on the ground, instead of up in the canopy where natural fire with greater intensity behind it could risk compromising the firelines. The fire has not yet reached the valley bottom, and UAS may be used again today if the progression downhill becomes uneven. This strategy has the greatest chance of success to keep the fire's inevitable downhill progression low-intensity and consistent.
Today’s Operations: San Juan Team 8 is working closely with partner agencies, developing strategies to keep fire west of US HWY 84 and protect communities in the Lower Blanco and the 84 corridor. The firelines on the east flank are holding. Overnight, fire became established on the western flank in Frio Canyon following yesterday’s wind event, and today crews will begin efforts to stop the fire from progressing farther west, with hotshot crews digging direct line where possible and the construction of indirect dozer line farther away from the fire’s edge as a contingency. Engine crews will begin structure protection measures around the westernmost properties along County Road 335.
As the fire continues moving slowly down the rim above Aspen and Rainbow Roads, engines and crews are observing its progress while drone operators stand by in case they need to straighten out uneven fire progression, as they did last night. Because the rim terrain is too steep for dozers and since hand-dug fireline would not hold successfully mid-slope, fire crews must wait for the fire to come all the way down the slope before tying it into hand and dozer lines there. While it may be a frustratingly slow strategy, the fact that fire is progressing slowly at the head greatly increases firefighters’ probability of success.
Closures/Evacuations: The Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office has issued an evacuation order for County Road 335 Lower Blanco, and pre-evacuation orders in place for County Road 337, 339, and Pinion Hills area along County Road 500. Contact the Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office at (970) 508-9928 for more information about evacuations and private land closures. The San Juan National Forest has multiple road closures in place, including the Valle Seco Road (NFSR 653).
Weather: Yesterday’s weather was hot, dry and breezy, with a thunderstorm’s outflow winds pushing the fire west. Today, weather will be similar, with near critical fire weather conditions, including temperatures about ten degrees above normal. The fire area is in continued drought, with significant precipitation deficits.
Reminder: If you fly, we can’t. A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the fire area. Private aircraft, including drones, are not allowed.
For air quality and smoke information, visit the AirNow Fire and Smoke Interactive Map :
https://fire.airnow.gov/?lang=en&fire=rio-blanco-31e#4.6/43.18/-90.86
Update, 9 a.m., Aug. 2:
Update, 8:09 p.m., Aug. 1:
In response to operations tonight, there is a possibility that power to structures along Rainbow Road, Aspen Road, Meadowbrook Place, Maple Glen Place and Pine Crest Drive will be de-energized for a period of time.
This will be in coordination with the incident team and La Plata Electric Association (LPEA). Power to these residences will be restored at the earliest and safest opportunity.
Update, 7:35 p.m., Aug. 1:
The terrain and fuels between the northern edge of the fire and the communities in the Lower Blanco are extremely challenging. The steepness of the terrain means that heavy machinery like dozers can't put in the robust fire lines necessary to contain a fire in the mixed conifer timber growing on these slopes. While firefighters theoretically could put handline in on these slopes, with much effort, it is extremely likely that the fire would jump the line. Additionally, it would put firefighters' lives at risk.
Update, 10:37 a.m., Aug. 1:
Acres: 1011 | Containment: 13% | Reported: 07/28/26 | Cause: Lightning | Personnel: 250
Current Situation: The Rio Blanco Fire is burning approximately 12 miles south of Pagosa Springs, CO, south of Eightmile Mesa. Friday, fire behavior moderated despite very hot, dry weather thanks to shading by cloud cover. On the fire’s southern flank, along Forest Road 653.B, crews and heavy equipment strengthened firelines directly along the fire’s edge. Then, last night, Navajo Hotshots, heavy equipment operators, and other personnel successfully performed firing operations in the southeast corner off 653.B at the top of Archuleta Canyon. They ignited small strips of low-intensity fire with drip torches to connect the main fire to the road and constructed dozer line. This tactic reduces the likelihood that natural fire, building heat and momentum, makes an uphill run that could compromise the line. Because of these successful operations, fire managers were able to declare that part of the perimeter contained.
On Rainbow and Aspen Roads, crews worked to protect homes by setting up portable pumps, hoses, sprinklers, and water tanks. They also removed brush and other vegetation close to homes and from the south side of these roads to create a fire break. Additionally, Blue Ridge Hotshots put in a handline from the established dozer line at the bottom of Archuleta Canyon west along the forest edge. On the east side of the fire, crews secured the dozer line and areas where the fire crossed it by digging handline and cooling hotspots with helicopter water drops. Large Air Tankers (LATs) and Single Engine Air Tankers (SEATs) dropped retardant on the west flank to hold fire in check.
Today’s Operations: San Juan Team 8 is working closely with partner agencies, developing strategies to keep fire west of U.S. 84 and protect communities. In the Lower Blanco, crews will continue structure protection work today, preparing for the use of defensive firing operations when the fire moves down the rim toward homes. To the east, Blue Ridge hotshots will continue digging fireline across the mouth of Archuleta Canyon as fire continues progressing down canyon. Where the firing operation was completed last night, crews will begin mop-up, which is the process of walking along the fire’s edge and extinguishing all heat within a prescribed distance into the “black” or burned area.
Closures/Evacuations: The Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office has issued an evacuation order for County Road 335 Lower Blanco, and pre-evacuation orders in place for County Road 337, 339, and Pinion Hills area along County Road 500. Contact the Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office at (970) 508-9928 for more information about evacuations and private land closures. The San Juan National Forest has multiple road closures in place, including the Valle Seco Road (NFSR 653).
Weather: Yesterday’s weather was hot, dry and breezy, with wind picking up in the early evening. Today, it will be warmer and drier. Slight chances for showers and thunderstorms exist for the fire area in the late afternoon and evening over the next couple days, with associated risks for lightning and strong outflow winds gusting 30-40 mph. The fire area is in continued drought, with significant precipitation deficits.
Reminder: If you fly, we can’t. A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) will be implemented over the fire area. More information about the TFR will be posted as soon as possible. Private aircraft, including drones, are not allowed.
For air quality and smoke information, visit the AirNow Fire and Smoke Interactive Map: https://fire.airnow.gov/?lang=en&fire=rio-blanco-31e#10.49/37.1373/-107.0318
Update, 8:18 a.m., Aug.1:
More resources continue to arrive, with over 200 personnel on site this morning. They received a briefing and work assignments before heading out into the field. Briefings include a weather and fire behavior forecast, an update on night operations and the fire situation, a plan for the day's work, a safety message, and logistical information such as where to get meals, showers, and bed down for the night.
Today's written update and operations video will be posted later this morning.
Update, 7:12 p.m., July 31:
Update, 10:49 a.m., July 31:
Update, 9:28 a.m., July 31:
Last night, crews patrolled and monitored the fire and observed minimal activity. Firefighters have been briefed this morning to discuss strategies for fire suppression and structure protection tactics and are headed out to the field.
Update, 9:32 p.m., July 30:
Evening update: The fire grew north to the rim above the Lower Blanco, dropping into the unnamed drainage between Frio and Archuleta Canyons. Crews worked on structure protection at homes threatened by fire along the CR 335 corridor and utilized helicopters to cool a spot fire and a "slopover" that both crossed the dozer line into Archuleta Canyon.
Air resources are a critical component of wildfire suppression, and multiple aircraft types have been supporting efforts on the Rio Blanco Fire. These include five Type 1 Blackhawk helicopters, two Type 2 Bell 205 helicopters, and several fixed-wing large air tankers. Each aircraft plays an essential role in reinforcing the work being carried out by crews on the ground: right tool for the right job. During the first 48 hours of initial attack, air tankers completed 32 missions, delivering 85,776 gallons of retardant to the fire. Today, helicopters contributed an additional 82,477 gallons of water to further support ground operations.
Effective aircraft support relies on strong collaboration. We appreciate the assistance provided over the past several days by air resources from Grand Junction and Colorado Springs tanker bases, and from the Gold Mountain Fire, as well as the excellent coordination from the staff at the Pagosa Airport.
Update, 6:27 p.m., July 30:
The Rio Blanco Fire is 709 acres, still with 0% containment.
Update, 3:53 p.m., July 30:
According to the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, the Rio Blanco fire has been calculated at 687 acres as of 3 p.m. Pagosa Springs High School remains the current evacuation center. Large animals can be housed at the CSU Extension building on U.S. 84.
Update, 2:33 p.m., July 30:
This is a secondary mandatory evacuation for County Road 335 due to the Rio Blanco Fire. We strongly urge residents to evacuate and check into the evacuation center at the Pagosa Springs High School. Please follow the Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office for more information or call the emergency call center at 970-508-9928.
Update, 11:33 a.m., July 30:
The Rio Blanco Fire near Pagosa Springs continues to burn, and aircraft combatting the fire are dipping buckets into Echo Canyon Reservoir State Wildlife Area.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife asks the public with both motorized vessels and hand-launched watercrafts to avoid operations west of the peninsula. Please give the aircraft space so they can safely operate and continue the excellent work fighting this fire.
Update, 10:12 a.m., July 30:
Acres: 440 | Containment: 0% | Reported: 07/28/26 | Cause: Lightning | Personnel: 91
Weather: Drier air arrives on Thursday, limiting shower and thunderstorm chances to the higher terrain adjacent to the fire location. These storms could produce outflow winds that impact fire behavior in the late afternoon or early evening. Temperatures will steadily increase through the weekend, and daytime minimum humidity values will begin to drop into the teens.
Update, 8:55 a.m., July 30: A fire crew stayed on last night to patrol and monitor fire activity and reported that the fire settled down and didn't experience significant growth thanks to an inversion layer over the area. Firefighters have been briefed and are headed out to the fire area for another day of building fire line and protecting structures.
Update, 9:28 p.m., July 29:
Evening update: The last measured acreage was 440 acres, calculated by an infrared flight at 10 a.m. this morning. Fire managers requested a second flight for this afternoon but, due to a high number of new fire starts across the state, the Multi Mission Aircraft were unable to provide a second measurement. Another infrared flight is on order for tomorrow morning.
Firefighters made progress today prepping structures threatened by fire along County Road 335 and building dozer lines along the east and southwest flanks. Crews observed moderated fire behavior this morning thanks to rain overnight. However, hotter and drier conditions this afternoon allowed the fire to move into lighter fuels like grasses, producing more smoke. Helicopters made 85 drops of approximately 45,000 gallons of water. Air tankers made numerous retardant drops, as well, which helped slow the advance of the fire.
Tomorrow, fire crews and operators plan to build more dozer and hand line along NFRS 653.B and the rim of Archuleta Canyon, as well as continue their structure protection efforts. Air operations will continue supporting ground crews with water and retardant drops.
Update, 7:35 p.m., July 29:
From the incident management team: The Navajo Interagency Hotshot Crew arrived today from Arizona on the Rio Blanco Fire. The crew is tied in on the east side of Archuleta Canyon where a dozer cut fire line running top to bottom at the mouth of the canyon earlier today.
When a new incident emerges, our highest priority is always the safety of personnel and the protection of life, property and the environment.
Original: At about 3 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28, the Rio Blanco Fire started 12 miles south of Pagosa Springs, with the Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) calling it a “rapidly growing wildfire” and issuing evacuation and pre-evacuation notices.
By midday Wednesday, July 29, the fire was estimated at 439 acres, with the incident management indicating the fire perimeter was mapped by aerial resources at 9 a.m. Wednesday morning.
The fire, according to the incident management team, is burning south of Pagosa Springs on Valle Seco B Road (NFSR 653.B).
At 4:10 p.m., the ACSO issued a pre-evacuation warning for the Lower Blanco area. At 4:29 p.m., an evacuation order was put out for County Road 335 (Lower Blanco Road).
At 6:18 p.m., a pre-evacuation warning was issued for the Pinon Hills subdivision, and a pre-evacuation order followed at 6:43 p.m. for County Road 337 and County Road 339.
That evening, the fire was estimated at 120 acres and the San Juan National Forest announced ground crews were on scene sizing up the fire and working to protect structures, utilizing dozer lines, engines and aerial support.
The agency stated in an update it is “taking aggressive actions to suppress this wildfire. Structure and resource protection, as well as firefighter and public safety are the main priorities for this incident.”
On Wednesday, San Juan Team 8 — the local type three incident management team, which traveled from the Ferris Fire in Dolores — took over management of the incident for the U.S. Forest Service.
“The fire exhibited extreme fire behavior and grew rapidly in just a few hours, but it received some moisture yesterday afternoon and into the evening that moderated fire behavior,” a Wednesday update from the incident management team states. “No structures have been impacted but the fire has burned within 1/4 mile of private property on the north flank.”
In the Wednesday update, the incident management team explains firefighters would continue to look for the best spots to access and build containment lines to protect structures in the County Road 335 area.
“Aerial resources will be on scene to slow the fire’s spread and moderate hot spots,” it states. “Deliberate efforts are being made to protect lives, property, and infrastructure, while ensuring firefighter safety.”
It adds multiple resources — including engines, dozers, hand crews and large air tankers are on scene — as well as an aerial supervision platform to provide oversight of the fire.
Additional resources were ordered, it states, though competition for resources is high nationwide due to high fire activity.
Additional Rio Blanco Fire updates will be posted at www.PagosaSUN.com as they become available.
Evacuation, pre-evacuation orders remain in place
As of midday Wednesday, the evacuation and pre-evacuation orders remained in place.
Additionally, Valle Seco Road (NFSR 653) and all spur roads are closed to the public.
The incident management team states the public should avoid the area north of the Valle Seco Road.
On Wednesday, Archuleta County Sheriff Mike Le Roux indicated the evacuations and pre-evacuations would likely stay in place until at least Thursday to allow fire managers to better understand what the northeast side of the fire is doing.
The intent, he noted, is to get everybody back as quickly as possible.
He added a checkpoint is in place at the evacuation site at County Road 335, with law enforcement accompanying people to their homes if they’ve forgotten medications or other needed items.
Le Roux noted not everyone chose to leave, but that the mandatory evacuation zone along the County Road 335 corridor includes 312 parcels that include 284 address points and 480 structures (including outbuildings).
Le Roux noted that, because not everyone chose to leave for the evacuation and the fire wasn’t threatening above-ground infrastructure, the decision was made to leave the power on in the area.
Le Roux added the pre-evacuation zone includes 113 address points on 162 parcels and 283 total structures.
An evacuation shelter is in place at Pagosa Springs High School, with the fairgrounds available for livestock and the Pagosa Springs Humane Society available for smaller domestic animals.
Cloman Park temporarily closed
On Wednesday, Archuleta County announced Cloman Park is closed until further notice due to the fire.
Temporary flight restriction in place
A temporary flight restriction (TFR) has been implemented over the fire area. Private aircraft, including drones, are not allowed.
Call center
According to Le Roux, Upper San Juan Search and Rescue is operating an incident call center at (970) 508-9928.
The call center is currently active from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
randi@pagosasun.com
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