DENVER — The Ferris Fire burning in Dolores and Montezuma counties, 15 miles northwest of Dolores, has charred more than 64,000 acres in southwest Colorado, with containment rising to 23%, according to the latest update.
The lightning-sparked blaze was first reported in the Glade Area on June 27.
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The fire forced evacuations in both counties, but some evacuations in Dolores County have been lifted.
There have been no reports of injuries or structural loss at this time.
An interactive evacuation map is available here.
Sunday, July 12
1:57 p.m. | New evacs | Due to changing fire behavior, the San Miguel and Dolores county sheriffs have issued an evacuation order for Ferris Fire Evacuation Zone 16, which includes several properties along the Dolores-San Miguel county line about a mile east of the Dolores River Canyon rim.
An interactive evacuation map is available here.
Saturday, July 11
3:00 p.m. | New pre-evac notice | The San Miguel County Sheriff's Office issued an elevated pre-evacuation notice "SET" level for Ferris Fire Evacuation Zone 15.
Here's the full notice:
Due to changing fire behavior, the San Miguel County Sheriff is issuing an elevated PRE-EVACUATION notice from the current “READY” status to the “SET” level for Ferris Fire Evacuation Zone 15, which is from the Dolores River Canyon west to Hwy 141 and from the county line north to the top of Slick Rock Hill. See link to evacuation map below. The “SET” pre-evacuation level means you should be prepared to leave immediately if this status is elevated to “GO,” which is a mandatory evacuation order.
If you choose to leave your home now, you must check into the evacuation center at the Dolores Senior Center in Dove Creek at 8540 Rd 7.2 to provide contact info to receive critical information. If you need transportation assistance, you should arrange for that now in the event mandatory evacuation is ordered. Call 970-729-3497 to arrange ADA compliant transportation assistance. If you have livestock or other large animals, consider removing them from the hazard area now. Large animals can be taken to the Montezuma County Fairgrounds at 30100 US-160 Cortez, CO. Call 970-759-2231 or 970-769-0005 to arrange."
Read more on the sheriff's office Facebook page. Check the fire evacuation map.
10:00 a.m. | Acerage latest | The fire has burned 63,271 acres and containment remained at 19% as of Saturday morning.
▶️ In the video player below, Denver7 breaks down each Colorado wildfire update as of Saturday AM.
Friday, July 10
6:50 p.m. | Increase in fire activity | Fire officials said there "was an increase in activity" in the northwestern area down into Dolores Canyon, so the Dolores County Office of Emergency Management ordered evacuations for Zones 14A and 14B. Zone 15, which also includes part of San Miguel County, is on pre-evac status. Here is the Ferris Fire Evacuation Map for zone parameters.
The fire has not crossed the westernmost bend of the Dolores River and has stayed within containment lines, the incident management team reported.
1:22 p.m. | Evacuations | Zone 14A (Dolores County Road H.6 north to County Road E and County Road 8.7 east to Canyon Rim) must evacuate. Zone 14B was ordered to evacuate a few minutes prior. Zone 15 in San Miguel County is now in "Ready" status, meaning residents should prepare for evacuations. Here is the Ferris Fire Evacuation Map for zone parameters.
This update in evacuations is due to "fire behavior and operations related to the Ferris Fire," the incident management team reported.
"Depending on weather conditions later today, fire officials may initiate a strategic fire as part of firefighting operations," the San Miguel County Sheriff's Office said. "If this occurs, residents may see flames or smoke within Zone 15. This is an intentional firefighting tactic and does not necessarily mean the Ferris Fire has grown or moved closer."
9:18 a.m. | Operational update | North winds over the Ferris Fire Thursday night contributed to the fire pushing about a half mile above Road 219, the incident management team said Friday morning.
9:09 a.m. | Latest on acreage and containment update | The Ferris Fire was measured at 62,916 acres Friday morning, according to the incident management team, and remains 19% contained.
Thursday, July 9
9:50 p.m. | Fire behavior moderates | The incident management team said fire behavior moderated Thursday after higher humidity and less wind, but the forecast in the coming days could lead to an increase in fire activity.
11:30 a.m. | Operations update | Joe Tieso, operations section chief, said outflow winds from storms overnight stopped the crews from completing their firing operations along the fire's southwest section, but nothing came outside of the containment lines.
9:24 a.m. | Acreage update and latest on containment | The Ferris Fire now totals 60,105 acres and is 19% contained, as of Thursday morning.
Fire has reached the Bradfield Bridge Campground, but now structures have been impacted. When conditions allow, firefighters will strategically remove unburned fuels between the Ferris Fire and control lines to limit fire spread to the south. Along the western edge of the fire Thursday, personnel will continue monitoring, holding and improving control lines.
Wednesday, July 8
5:54 p.m. | Mandatory evacuations lifted | Zone 9 has reopened and residents may go home, according to the Ferris Fire Information Facebook page.
4:40 p.m. | Disaster emergency | Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has declared a disaster emergency in response to the Ferris Fire.
9:20 a.m. | Operations update | The incident management team provided an update on the fire's activity on Tuesday.
"Extreme fire behavior occurred yesterday afternoon and continued overnight on the west side of the fire near Bradfield Bridge Campground, throughout Dolores Canyon and its side canyons," they reported. "As fire activity increased, Zone 9 was evacuated overnight between County Road 15 and Highway 491 due to fire encroachment. Firefighters conducted strategic firing operations along the Dolores River side canyon near County Roads 3 and 15 and around Bradfield Bridge Campground. Crews successfully held the fire within planned containment lines, working through the night to strengthen and defend those positions."
The fire's run yesterday went through Glade Canyon and Big Springs Gulch drainage.
On Wednesday, crews will continue to strengthen containment lines while "aggressively engaging any spot fires or slopovers as early as possible during favorable conditions."
Critical fire weather continues Wednesday.
9:14 a.m. | Operational update | California Interagency Incident Management Team 7 said Wednesday morning that around 9:45 p.m. Tuesday night, erratic winds kicked in from the east, pushing the fire line toward bulldozer lines the day shift had established.
While it triggered evacuation warnings for Zone 9, the wildfire was kept within containment lines and no additional structures were lost overnight.
However toward the north, the fire progressed overnight from the Sheep Mountain Point.
8 a.m. | Community meeting today | A public meeting is scheduled for today at 6 p.m. at the Dolores County Public Service Center at 8477 Road 7.7 in Dove Creek. It will be livestreamed on the Ferris Fire Facebook page.
7:30 p.m. | Updated map | Below is a map showing current evacuations and the fire's perimeter, as of Wednesday morning. This map is courtesy of Watch Duty.
6:15 a.m. | New evacuations | Zone 9 has been ordered to evacuate. This includes County Road H.6 south to County Road P, and County Road 12 east and Highway 491 east below County Road M.
Tuesday, July 7
6:57 p.m. | Acreage update | The Ferris Fire is now 57,356 acres and 19% contained, according to the incident management team. Large air tankers flew over the fire earlier in the day to help with containment along its northern edge, south of Forest Forest 504. "Super scooper" plans also flew north of Benchmark Lookout.
3:32 p.m. | Community meeting | California Interagency Incident Management Team 7 will host a community meeting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday. Members from Team 7, the San Juan National Forest, and additional cooperating agencies will be on hand to provide information. The meeting will be at the Dolores County Public Service Center at 8477 Road 7.7, Dove Creek.
10:45 a.m. | Acreage and containment update | The Ferris Fire has grown to 51,622 acres, but firefighters have now reached 22% containment, the Ferris Fire Information Facebook page said.
10:36 a.m. | Community meeting plans | The Ferris Fire Information Facebook page announced the California Interagency Incident Management Team 7 will host a community meeting on Wednesday, July 8, at 6 p.m. at the Dolores County Public Service Center.
The meeting will also be livestreamed on the San Juan National Forest Facebook page and the California Incident Management Team 7 YouTube channel for those unable to attend in person.
Monday, July 6
9:30 p.m. | Fire management change | Residents in the area will start seeing more California fire vehicles, according to the Ferris Fire Information Facebook page, as the local San Juan National Forest Type 3 Incident Management Team 8 turns management of the Ferris Fire over Tuesday morning to California Team 7, a Complex Incident Management Team.
They are moving the command post from the fire station in Dolores to Cortez High School. The San Juan National Forest Team Team 8 said it will now be on standby to respond to any new fires in the coming days and weeks, if needed.
7:49 p.m. | Fire suppression efforts | Firefighters installed sprinkler systems in evacuation zones 7 and 8, as well as removed low limbs and other flammable material surrounding homes.
Winds from passing storms increased fire behavior dramatically, according to the Ferris Fire Information Facebook page.
2:28 p.m. | Planned power outage | Residents east of County Road 15 were advised to expect a power outage from 2:45 p.m. until approximately 9 p.m. while firefighters worked to suppress the Ferris Fire, the Dolores County Office of Emergency Management said on Facebook.
8:37 a.m. | Acreage and containment update | The Ferris Fire has now burned 47,780 acres and is at 21% contained, according to the Ferris Fire Information Facebook page. It's at 21% containment, mostly on the southern and eastern edges of the fire perimeter.
Firefighters worked to prevent significant impacts to critical infrastructure and private property along the west side of the Dolores River Canyon.
Along the northeastern edge of the Ferris Fire, crews have made efforts to protect the Glade Ranch subdivision.
Monday's potential for possible thunderstorms in the area are unlikely over the fire, according to the Ferris Fire Information Facebook page. However, winds from passing storms could fan the fire and result in increased smoke.
Denver7 is tracking the latest information on each of the wildfires burning in Colorado. If you'd like to catch up on coverage from last week, check out stories from Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday through the weekend.
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