Monday, July 6, 12 noon:
Fire crews continue working to contain the Ferris Fire northwest of Dolores.
The fire is about 50,000 acres and 21% contained. A Monday update from San Juan Team 8 listed the fire at 47,780 acres, while the team’s public information map listed it at 49,934 acres. Both listed containment at 21%.
On Sunday, crews on the north and west flanks strategically applied fire to widen and improve dozer lines and remove vegetation ahead of the fire. Officials said the work is meant to reduce potential impacts to homes, infrastructure and public and private lands.
Firefighters on the west rim of Dolores River Canyon secured fireline with dozers and burnout operations from Road M.9 to Dolores River Canyon Overlook. On the north side of the fire, officials said the fire crossed Forest Service Road 270, but had not reached the Forest Service Road 504 fireline.
Aircraft, including scoopers, tankers and helicopters, supported firefighting operations Sunday by dropping a collective 142,000 gallons across the fire.
Evacuation Zones 1, 2, 7, 8 and 10 are in GO status, including County Road 15 east to the canyon rim. GO means residents should leave now. Officials said Zones 7 and 8 were modified Sunday to include parts of Zones 9 and 11 east of County Road 15. The Dolores County interactive evacuation map is expected to be updated to reflect those changes.
For Monday, officials said hot, dry conditions and potential outflow winds from distant thunderstorms could create extreme fire behavior. Crews will continue line improvement, structure protection and work to protect private lands and infrastructure. Residents in Division J should expect disrupted power connections Monday.
Approximately 539 personnel are assigned to the Ferris Fire. San Juan Team 8 is expected to transition management to a Complex Incident Management Team Tuesday morning.
Residents should continue to monitor official evacuation updates and be prepared to act quickly if conditions change.
Sunday, July 5, 9:37 p.m.
The Ferris Fire is now mapped at 47,780 acres and remains 7% contained.
Dolores County Emergency Management has expanded GO status evacuation areas. GO means residents should leave now.
Current GO areas include Zone 1, Glade Ranch, Zone 2, Ryman Creek, Zone 8, and the area from County Road 15 east to the canyon rim, including Zone 7 and parts of Zones 9 and 11.
Evacuees should go to the Pleasant View Fire Station for mandatory check-in.
Residents should follow Dolores County Emergency Management and official fire updates for the most current evacuation boundaries and instructions. A searchable evacuation map is available here.
Residents in SET areas should remain ready to leave if conditions change.
Sunday, July 5, 10:30 a.m.
The Ferris Fire is now mapped at 42,758 acres and is 7% contained.
San Juan Team 8 said fire behavior moderated slightly Saturday, but heavy smoke was visible across the Four Corners as a large pocket of vegetation in and north of Narraguinnep Canyon burned actively. Officials said the fire was active from rim to rim in Dolores River Canyon.
Bulldozers and masticators constructed line on the west rim of the canyon with the goal of protecting homes and critical infrastructure. The fire continues to burn on Bureau of Land Management land and into small sections of private land. Officials said no structures were impacted.
On the north perimeter near Forest Service Road 509, firefighters prioritized protecting power lines. On the southeast corner of the fire, crews completed a burnout operation to build perimeter in the pocket between Forest Service Roads 514 and 521. Helicopters supported operations Saturday and dropped 57,000 gallons across the fire area.
For Sunday, officials expect extremely active fire behavior again because of hot and dry conditions. Aircraft will continue assisting ground crews as they work to protect private lands and infrastructure.
Dozers and masticators will continue building fireline along the west rim of Dolores River Canyon. Officials said residents in nearby areas should expect possible intermittent power outages if crews need to burn off dozer lines. Firefighters are also expected to install sprinkler kits around structures at risk on the west rim.
Near Glade Ranch subdivision and other private inholdings farther north, bulldozers will continue building fireline and two hotshot crews are expected to work directly on the northeast corner of the fire.
Approximately 502 personnel are working the fire. San Juan Team 8, a Type 3 Incident Management Team, is expected to transition management of the fire to a larger Complex Incident Management Team on Monday evening. Officials said the larger team will provide additional resources and logistical support.
The San Juan National Forest and the Bureau of Land Management both have fire area closures in place. Residents should check Dolores County Emergency Management and official fire updates for current evacuation boundaries and closure information.
The American Red Cross has established an evacuation center at the Pleasant View School. View an interactive evacuation map here.
Saturday, July 4, 2 p.m.
Dolores County Emergency Management has moved an area near Highway 491 and County Roads 12 through 16 to SET status because of the Ferris Fire.
Officials describe this area as stretching from Highway 491 and County Road 12 to County Road 16, and from County Road P to County Road H.6.
SET means residents should be ready to leave if conditions change, but it does not mean evacuate now. Residents in SET areas should load go-kits into vehicles, park facing out, review evacuation routes and prepare pets and livestock.
Go-kits should include medications, important documents, phone chargers, water, snacks, cash, extra keys, first aid supplies and pet supplies.
An area near Pleasant View remains under GO status. Residents there should leave now and check in at the Pleasant View Fire Station.
Another nearby area remains under SET status.
Dolores County officials said residents with concerns may leave voluntarily. For more information, residents can call 970-677-2929 or 970-677-2257.
Residents should continue checking official emergency updates for current evacuation boundaries and instructions.
A website has been setup to help residents determine their evacuation zone that is searchable by address.
Saturday, July 4, 11 a.m.
The Ferris Fire is now mapped at 38,274 acres and remains 9% contained.
San Juan Team 8 said the fire crossed the Dolores River Friday afternoon and reached the west rim of the Dolores River Canyon. The fire is now burning on Bureau of Land Management land on the western rim. Officials said no structures have been lost.
The fire also made a strong push northeast toward Benchmark Lookout.
On Saturday, heavy helicopters, two scooper planes and air tankers are expected to support ground crews working to contain the fire along the west rim of Dolores River Canyon and on the San Juan National Forest near Benchmark Lookout.
Fire personnel are also improving preparations around private residences in the Glade Ranch subdivision.
Zone 8 remains under GO status, meaning residents should leave now and check in at the Pleasant View Fire Station. Zone 7 remains under SET status, meaning residents should be ready to leave if conditions change.
Both Dolores and Montezuma counties have active evacuation orders in place. Residents should check county emergency management updates for current evacuation boundaries and instructions.
Area closures also remain in place on the San Juan National Forest and on Bureau of Land Management lands, including the Bradfield Bridge Recreation Area and multiple roads on the north end of the Ferris Fire.
Friday, July 3, 4 p.m.
The Ferris Fire has grown to nearly 33,500 acres as new evacuation orders are being implemented in Dolores County.
A website has been set up to help local residents figure out which evacuation zone they're in, searchable by street address.
Dolores County Emergency Management has issued a GO evacuation order for Zone 8. That area runs from County Road P north to County Road H.6, and from County Road 16 east to the canyon rim. Residents in Zone 8 should leave now and check in at the Pleasant View Fire Station.
Zone 7 has been moved to SET status. That area runs from Dolores Canyon to County Road 16, and from County Road P to the county line. SET means residents should be ready to leave, but should not evacuate unless conditions change or officials give further instructions.
All of Montezuma County remains in READY status. READY does not mean evacuate. It means residents should make a plan, gather essentials and prepare a go bag.
Tri-State Generation and Transmission will also de-energize power lines immediately threatened by the fire. Officials said those will be localized, temporary outages.
Residents should check official emergency updates for current evacuation boundaries and instructions.
Friday, July 3, 9:30 a.m.
The Ferris Fire northwest of Dolores is now 10% contained and remains mapped at 30,706 acres.
Fire officials said that still leaves a large amount of uncontained perimeter, and crews remain on the line working to increase containment. Personnel are expected to continue working overnight again tonight.
More resources arrived Friday, bringing the official count to 365 personnel assigned to the fire.
Officials cautioned that wildfire numbers can change as conditions and mapping change. If the fire grows, the containment percentage can go down even as crews continue making progress on parts of the fireline.
Area closures remain in place on the San Juan National Forest and nearby BLM land. Anyone planning to recreate in the area this weekend should check current closures before heading out. McPhee Reservoir remains open and is accessible from McPhee Marina and House Creek.
Thursday, July 2, 5 p.m.
The Ferris Fire northwest of Dolores is now mapped at 27,382 acres.
In a Thursday operations update, fire officials said the fire has not reached the Dolores River yet, but continues moving down Doe Canyon and Lake Canyon toward the river.
Fire managers said crews will not directly engage the fire inside Dolores Canyon because of the steep, rugged terrain. Instead, firefighters are preparing plans for areas where the fire could be picked up more safely if it reaches the west rim.
Crews are also continuing work near Benchmark Lookout and the Glade Ranch area, where firefighters are preparing containment lines and structure protection options. On the south and southeast sides of the fire, officials said crews have made strong progress and expect to show some containment soon.
San Miguel, Dolores and Montezuma counties are working with the incident team on an interactive web map that will allow residents to check evacuation status by address. Officials said that map could be available soon.
A community meeting on the Ferris Fire is scheduled for Friday, July 3, at 6 p.m. at the Dove Creek Public Service Center, located at 8477 Road 7.7 in Dove Creek.
Thursday, July 2, 7:39 a.m.
The Ferris Fire northwest of Dolores grew to 25,814 acres Wednesday night.
Fire officials said the fire was expected to reach the Dolores River Canyon overnight as it backed down Doe Canyon. Crews were monitoring that area closely and coordinating with Dolores County and local fire agencies.
Dolores County has placed Zone 8 under SET status. That area runs from the Dolores River Canyon to Road 15, and from Road P on the south to Road H.6 on the north. SET means residents should be ready to leave if conditions change.
Officials say people in SET areas should load go-kits into vehicles, park facing out, prepare pets and livestock, review evacuation routes and follow official updates.
Firefighters continued building containment line Wednesday on the northeast corner of the fire near private lands. More crews and a dozer were expected to continue that work Thursday. Crews also completed dozer work on the southwest corner and are improving containment lines there.
In southeastern Utah, the Babylon Fire has grown to about 79,800 acres. The BLM has issued additional closures near the fire, including areas west of Harts Draw Road, the Indian Creek Corridor, Shay Mesa, Beef Basin, Dark Canyon and Sweet Alice.
All Forest Service lands, roads and trails in the Monticello Ranger District remain closed, and Canyonlands National Park’s Needles District is also temporarily closed.
Residents and travelers should continue checking official emergency updates before heading into affected areas.
Wednesday, July 1, 11:30 a.m.
Fire officials say the Ferris Fire burned actively on Tuesday as winds gusted up to 50 miles per hour, and fire activity remained high overnight.
Southeast winds pushed the fire into Doe Canyon on the northwest side, where it began moving toward the Dolores River Canyon. Officials say steep terrain there is too dangerous for direct firefighting, and fire managers are assessing ways to limit the fire’s spread.
On the northeast edge of the fire, crews are building direct fireline north from the intersection of National Forest System Roads 514 and 240 to reduce threats to private land. Firefighters are also continuing structure protection around Benchmark Lookout and private structures in Glade Ranch.
Evacuations remain in place in parts of Dolores and Montezuma counties, and the San Juan National Forest fire area closure remains in effect.
In southeastern Utah, the Babylon Fire continues to prompt major closures. The entire Monticello Ranger District of the Manti-La Sal National Forest remains closed, along with Canyonlands National Park’s Needles District. A community meeting on the Babylon Fire is scheduled for Thursday evening in Blanding.
Wednesday, July 1, 8:15 a.m.
The Ferris Fire northwest of Dolores is now listed at about 23,300 acres and remains zero percent contained.
GO, or Level 3, evacuation orders remain in place for Lone Dome Road, Bradfield Campground, Road 521 toward McPhee Dam, the Glade Ranch Subdivision and private land inholdings north of Glade Ranch.
A Level 1, or READY, notice is also in place east of Lone Mesa State Park to the Dolores-Norwood Road, and north to just below Disappointment Road.
Fire officials say crews are working around the clock because low overnight humidity is keeping fire behavior more active than usual. Aircraft played a major role Tuesday on the southeast and northeast portions of the fire. Three heavy helicopters made water drops for seven to eight hours, and airtankers dropped about 50,000 gallons of retardant.
Crews are continuing to dig line and conduct burnout operations where needed to tie the fire into roads and natural barriers. On the west side of the fire, winds pushed it deeper into Doe Canyon, where officials say a direct attack is too dangerous. Fire managers are assessing indirect options.
In southeastern Utah, the Babylon Fire has grown to about 70,700 acres. The entire Monticello Ranger District of the Manti-La Sal National Forest remains closed, and Canyonlands National Park’s Needles District is also closed. Officials say the Babylon Fire is not currently burning inside the park.
In related local updates, Rico has canceled its Fourth of July fireworks display because of fire concerns. Cortez is currently planning to move forward with its professional fireworks show, emphasizing that it is coordinated with local safety officials.
Residents and travelers should continue checking official emergency updates before heading into affected areas.
Updated Tuesday, June 30, 4:30 p.m.
The Ferris Fire northwest of Dolores is now estimated at about 21,300 acres, according to preliminary perimeter data from the National Interagency Fire Center.
The fire remains zero percent contained.
Earlier Tuesday, fire officials listed the Ferris Fire at 19,613 acres and said winds and fire behavior had moderated slightly on Monday, allowing crews to build a fireline directly along parts of the active fire edge.
The fire is burning about 15 miles northwest of Dolores on the Dolores Ranger District of the San Juan National Forest. Officials say it was started by lightning.
The Ferris Fire began Saturday as three separate fires: the Ferris, Far Draw and Doe Canyon fires. Those fires have since merged and are being managed as one incident by San Juan Team 8.
Fire officials said the fire did not grow significantly in the northeast on Monday, which is the area closest to evacuated homes. Crews completed a burnout operation overnight to remove unburned fuel between the fire and National Forest System Road 240. Officials said that work created a containment line to help protect the Glade Ranch Subdivision.
The fire has not reached private lands or the Benchmark Lookout Tower. Firefighters have also prepared the Glade Guard Station in case the fire pushes north.
Crews are prioritizing structure protection around the Glade Ranch Subdivision and Benchmark Lookout, as well as work on the southeast side of the fire to protect nearby private land. Firefighters are using hand crews, engines, helicopters, dozers and air tankers where conditions allow.
A Red Flag Warning remains a concern for the fire area, with strong winds, low humidity and dry fuels expected to challenge crews. Fire officials said helicopters made water drops Monday and were expected to work again Tuesday, but high winds could limit air operations.
Evacuations remain in place for Glade Ranch residents, and a pre-evacuation order has been issued farther east. Montezuma County has also issued evacuations for private lands along the lower Dolores River corridor from McPhee Dam to Bradfield Bridge. An evacuation site has been set up at the Pleasant View Fire Station, located at 15235 County Rd CC, Pleasant View, CO 81331.
The San Juan National Forest also has a fire area closure in place around the Ferris Fire. The closure restricts public access to lands, roads and trails in the fire area, including access points to Bradfield Bridge Campground and campgrounds upriver to the base of McPhee Dam.
Dry Canyon Recreation Area and Forest Road 510 remain open, but officials say the public should avoid lands, roads and trails west of Forest Road 510.
Babylon Fire destroys four structures
In southeastern Utah, the Babylon Fire has grown to more than 48,000 acres and remains zero percent contained, according to a Tuesday update from the Manti-La Sal National Forest.
The fire is burning about 25 miles southwest of Monticello. Its cause remains undetermined.
Fire officials say strong winds and low humidity pushed the fire northwest Monday. Crews are using indirect strategies and natural geographic barriers as they work in steep, rugged terrain.
Four structures have been destroyed by the Babylon Fire, including one Nature Conservancy structure and three Forest Service structures: the Scorup Cabin, Poso Cabin and King Edward's Mine Cabin.
A Great Basin Complex Incident Management Team has been ordered and is scheduled to assume command of the Babylon Fire on Wednesday, July 1, at 6 a.m.
A new forest closure is now in place for all National Forest System lands, roads and trails within the Monticello Ranger District of the Manti-La Sal National Forest in San Juan County, Utah.
Canyonlands National Park has also temporarily closed The Needles District because of the nearby fire. Fire officials say the Babylon Fire is not currently burning inside the park.
The Horse Head Fire, also in San Juan County, Utah, is listed at about 530 acres and 50 percent contained. Utah Fire Info said structures are no longer threatened there.
Residents and travelers should continue checking local emergency updates, InciWeb, the Ferris Fire Information page and county emergency management pages for the latest evacuation, closure and fire information.
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