Final update, 8:50 a.m., Aug. 15:
Acres: 1,388 | Containment: 97% | Reported: 07/28/26 | Cause: Lightning | Personnel: 45
Current situation: The Rio Blanco Fire is now 97 percent contained. This will be the last update from the incident. Information is still available on InciWeb and the Facebook page, however no new updates will be developed unless the situation changes. The phone line and email will remain active for questions or concerns.
In Division Mike (M) along Lower Blanco Road, firefighters rolled up the remaining mile of hose. There are still heavy fuels being consumed in the interior of the fire, so smoke may be visible for some time. It is too dangerous for firefighters to go after those smokes, and they do not pose any threat to the fireline.
In Division Alpha (A) along Valle Seco Road, dozers and crews worked diligently to repair damage caused by heavy equipment traffic and the fire itself, restoring access routes and minimizing additional impacts to the landscape.
Today’s operations: Working alongside rehabilitation specialists, firefighters and equipment operators are focused on stabilizing the landscape, repairing areas affected by firefighting operations and helping the burned area begin its recovery. The goal is to give the landscape the best opportunity to return to a more natural condition as quickly as possible.
Weather: Next week will have intervals of clouds and sunshine with a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoons. High temperatures are in the mid-80s with lows in the mid-50s. Relative humidities are around 25-35 percent during the day and 60-80 percent overnight. Southwest winds will be mild 2-5 mph.
Closures/evacuations: The San Juan National Forest has multiple road closures in place, including the Valle Seco Road (NFSR 653) and all associated spur roads. There are no evacuations in place.
Update, 9:11 a.m., Aug. 13:
Acres: 1,388 | Containment: 91% | Reported: 07/28/26 | Cause: Lightning | Personnel: 97
Current situation: The Rio Blanco Fire received some moisture over the past few days, allowing firefighters to use the rain to assist with mop-up operations. A smaller Type 4 incident management team assumed command of the fire Tuesday and continues the gradual scaling down of firefighting efforts while sharpening the focus on restoration and rehabilitation of the burn area.
In Division M along Lower Blanco Road, firefighters rolled up more than 6,000 feet of hose in a single day, with approximately another mile still to be removed as cleanup continues around homes and private property. The hoses were part of an elaborate water-delivery system that provided water from streamside pumps and portable orange storage tanks to firefighters defending homes last week. The system supported sprinklers and wet lines as firefighters worked to protect structures from flames.
In Division Alpha along Valle Seco Road, dozers and crews worked diligently to repair damage caused by heavy equipment traffic and the fire itself, restoring access routes and minimizing additional impacts to the landscape.
Weather: Today will be mostly cloudy with showers and thunderstorms likely. Temperatures are trending down into the 80s during the day and 40-50s at night. Relative humidities are increasing to 30-40 percent during the day and 60-80 percent overnight.
Closures/evacuations: The San Juan National Forest has multiple road closures in place, including the Valle Seco Road (NFSR 653) and all associated spur roads. There are no evacuations in place.
Original:
The Rio Blanco Fire, located 12 miles south of Pagosa Springs, was listed at 1,388 acres and 91 percent contained as of Tuesday, Aug. 11, with the next update from the incident management team expected today, Thursday, Aug. 13.
The fire was started by lightning at about 3 p.m. on July 28 and rapidly grew, prompting evacuation and pre-evacuation warnings.
At 4:10 p.m., the Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office 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 roads 337 and 339.
That evening, the fire was estimated at 120 acres and the San Juan National Forest announced ground crews were on the scene sizing up the fire and working to protect structures, utilizing dozer lines, engines and aerial support.
By midday Wednesday, July 29, the fire was estimated at 439 acres.
The fire topped 1,000 acres on Aug. 1, when it was mapped at 1,009 acres.
It reached its final mapped size of 1,388 acres on Aug. 5, when it also was reported to be 55 percent contained.
Pre-evacuation orders were lifted on Aug. 5 and 6, with the mandatory evacuation orders lifted the afternoon of Friday, Aug. 7, allowing residents along County Road 335 to return home after more than a week.
No structures were damaged or lost.
On Aug. 11, the fire was reported to be 91 percent contained with 154 people working on the fire.
“Firefighters on the Rio Blanco Fire continue to make big strides on mopping up and containment, now at 91 percent, as focus has begun shifting more toward rehabilitation efforts,” an Aug. 11 update from the incident management team states. “San Juan Team 8 transferred command of the fire to a Type 4 organization on Monday evening, with Incident Commander Jesse Jones continuing to lead the smaller organization.”
The update further explains, “Residual smoke from smoldering downed trees remains visible well within containment lines – and may continue for weeks – but does not pose a concern to firefighters.”
The day’s update also notes that crews would be continuing suppression repair in the area.
“Crews and heavy equipment will continue with suppression repair and land-rehabilitation efforts,” the update states. “Embedded among the firefighters is a designated Initial Attack crew assigned to respond [quickly] to any new fire starts in the area that could further stretch firefighting resources. The issue is that vegetation in the area is so drought-stricken that any new ignitions can spread rapidly and be difficult to control. With afternoon thunderstorms bringing the potential for lighting strikes, wildfire danger remains extreme. On another front, the chipping of slash left from firefighting continues along the southern edge of the fire – an important piece of cleanup that helps return the burn area to a more natural condition.”
Additional Rio Blanco Fire updates will be posted at www.PagosaSUN.com as they become available from the incident management team.
Echo Canyon Reservoir reopens to boating
On Aug. 3, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) announced that it had temporarily closed boating access at Echo Canyon Reservoir to allow aircraft to safely operate while scooping water to fight the ongoing Rio Blanco Fire.
Helicopter teams were actively dipping buckets into the reservoir for aerial support, according to the agency and, to maximize the ability of fire personnel to utilize water from Echo Canyon Reservoir State Wildlife Area, CPW closed the water to all vessels.
The reservoir was reopened to full access the evening of Aug. 8.
According to CPW Southwest Region Public Information Officer John Livingston, approximately 450,000 gallons was taken from Echo Canyon Reservoir for the effort.
But, Livingston indicates, the lake hardly shows it, dropping maybe 6 to 8 inches.
Forest Service roads remain closed
Additionally, as of Wednesday, Aug. 12, the U.S. Forest Service continued to state that Valle Seco Road (NFSR 653) and all spur roads are closed to the public.
For older information on the Rio Blanco Fire, see Rio Blanco Fire containment reaches 91 percent.
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