On Tuesday, July 28, at approximately 3:11 p.m., the Rio Blanco Fire was first reported to emergency personnel in Archuleta County. The fire quickly posed a significant imminent threat to the area, and County Road 335 was put under mandatory evacuation. The areas of county roads 337 and 339 and Pinion Hills were placed on pre-evacuation notice. It was a scary time for many of us in our small, rural community.
As of Monday, according to Watch Duty, the Rio Blanco Fire sits at approximately 1,388 acres and is 79 percent contained.
All of us at Colorado State University (CSU) Extension here in Archuleta County, like so many across our community, are incredibly grateful for the job well done by all the emergency management personnel, both local and from around the nation, who put their lives in danger to protect us and our wildlands. And we are thankful that the mandatory evacuation order was lifted on Friday, Aug. 7.
Recovery from wildfire can be challenging, and dangers may remain in and around homes and structures that are near the fire.
CSU Extension provides trusted information and resources to support our community during recovery from the Rio Blanco Fire and other emergencies and natural disasters. We’re here to help you take informed steps toward stability and resilience. Below are resources to help inform and guide you in your recovery efforts.
Perhaps one of the most useful resources is the Archuleta County After the Disaster Guidebook. This handbook provides a comprehensive toolkit of practical guidance, resources and tools to help individuals, families and landowners navigate recovery after a disaster — especially wildfire — and rebuild safely and effectively. You may find the guidebook at https://extension.colostate.edu/archuleta/resources/.
Wildfires destroy plant cover and the litter layer that normally slow water runoff and hold soil in place. Without this protection, heavy rain can cause rapid soil loss. CSU Extension’s peer-reviewed fact sheet “Soil Erosion Control After Wildfire” outlines practical actions landowners can take to reduce soil erosion. This fact sheet can be found at https://extension.colostate.edu/resource/soil-erosion-control-after-wildfire/.
Our colleagues at North Dakota State University offer this resource to help you get your kitchen back in order upon returning home. Visit https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/ag-hub/disinfecting-dishes-cookware-and-utensils to learn more.
Watch Duty is a free, nonprofit app that provides real-time alerts and maps for both wildfires and floods, using verified human reporting to keep users informed and safe. Among other things, the information includes evacuation orders and shelter information for both people and animals. We highly recommend residents of Archuleta County download and use this app to stay informed. Visit www.watchduty.org/ to learn more and download the app.
Archuleta County Extension is your information source, working alongside our community to help address local needs, share knowledge and co-create solutions to help our community thrive. We are part of a nationwide system that uses the latest research to help residents learn more about gardening, sustainable living, healthy eating, youth development, fraud prevention and much more. Our job is to bring these resources directly to you.
If you would like any of the above resources emailed to you, or if you are looking for other resources, please email Cindi Galabota, county director and community development specialist, at cindi.galabota@colostate.edu.
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