News

The Rio Grande County Sheriff’s Office Announces:

Some Evacuations Lifted In West Fork Fire Complex

Fire is Still Active, Re-evacuation Possible

For more information: 719.569.4149

6/28/2013 10:14 AM

June 28, 2013 - Liane Jollon, Interim Executive Director of the San Juan Basin Health Department, has issued an immediate “Health Advisory” for Durango, Pagosa Springs, Silverton, La Plata County, Archuleta County, San Juan County and the surrounding areas due to the degraded air quality from smoke from local Wildfires.

Elderly persons, young children, pregnant women and persons with pre-existing circulatory or respiratory conditions should limit outdoor activity when smoke is visible in the sky.

Smoke:  Smoke monitors are in place in Del Norte and Creede.   For the official Colorado Smoke Outlook visit http://www.colorado.gov/airquality/colo_advisory.aspx and http://www.colorado.gov/airquality/wildfire.aspx for further health advisory information.

Public Information: Please do not call 911 unless it is an actual emergency.  If you have questions about the status of the West Fork Complex, please contact us at the above phone numbers. 

The following fire information meetings will be held over the next several days: 

Del Norte: Daily briefing at the Red Cross Shelter in Del Norte at 9 am

Multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional team in planning stages for

possible reopen this Saturday

MINERAL/RIO GRAND COUNTIES – Due to forest fires in the area (including the West Fork Fire), US 160 over Wolf Creek Pass (between South Fork on the east side to east of Pagosa Springs on the west side) remains closed.

La Plata County Sheriff’s Office received a report from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Thursday stating that items sent to them for tests had been identified as human remains and that they were identified as Dylan Redwine.  The family has been notified.

A variety of items including bones were collected during a 5 day search of Middle Mountain Road.  

Middle Mountain is located north and within sight of Vallecito Lake. The search area ranges from 8,000’ to 11,000’ altitude and consists of deep canyons and dense forest.   

SOUTHWESTERN COLORADO – Emergency closures in place due to the West Fork Fire Complex currently affect about 50 miles of the Colorado Trail on the Rio Grande National Forest and about 150 miles of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail on both the Rio Grande and San Juan national forests.  These trail sections are closed to all public entry between San Luis Pass north of Creede, Stony Pass east of Silverton and Elwood Pass northeast of Pagosa Springs, as identified within the closure orders.

Public Information: Please do not call 911 unless it is an actual emergency.  If you have questions about the status of the West Fork Complex, please contact us at the above phone numbers. 

The following fire information meetings will be held over the next several days: 

Del Norte: Daily briefing at the Red Cross Shelter in Del Norte at 9 am

Pagosa Springs:  Saturday June 29, 2013 at 1:00 pm at the Community Center

Special Message:

Public Information:

Please do not call 911 unless it is an actual emergency.  If you have questions about the status of the West Fork Complex, please contact us at the above phone numbers. 

Special Message: Several fire information meetings will be held over the next several days. 

Del Norte: Daily briefing at the Red Cross Shelter in Del Norte at 9 am

Lake City: Wednesday, June 26 at 2:00 pm at the Armory

Pagosa Springs:  Saturday June 29, 2013 at 1:00 pm at the Community Center

Current Situation:

East Zone of the West Fork Complex (Includes Papoose and Eastern Part of West Fork Fires)