TRAVEL UPDATE from Colorado Department of Transportation, Sunday JUNE 3:
US 550 north of Durango is now open through 6 PM this evening (Sunday June 3). This is a LIMITED re-opening of the highway, with law enforcement escorting vehicles through the restricted area from MP 35.5 to 43.5.
This access is for THROUGH TRAFFIC ONLY! All evacuation and pre-evacuation orders remain in place and no vehicle access will be allowed to evacuated subdivisions and homes.
If fire activity increases, US 550 could close again at any time.
From JUNE 2:
A wildfire burning on National Forest land north of Durango, Colorado — designated as the ‘416 Fire’ — expanded quickly on Friday, June 1, starting from the initial reports at about 10am, and growing to approximately 1,100 acres as of 7:45pm that evening, according to reports posted on the “#416Fire” Facebook page.
Crews were fighting the flames from both the ground and the air, and the La Plata County Manager has declared a state of local disaster.
The Colorado Department of Transportation has closed US Highway 550 north of Durango due to a wildfire, named by local authorities as the “416 Fire.” The highway closure is in place from mile posts MP34 to MP48. Travelers in the area are being diverted onto La Plata County Road 250.
CDOT Maintenance Superintendent Greg Stacy advised, “Area residents and travelers should remain alert to emergency announcements. The current weather conditions and increasing high winds will certainly affect the fires behavior and path.”
Those attempting to travel northbound or southbound between Ridgway and Durango should consider alternate routes:
- CO 62 Ridgway to Placerville
- CO 145 Placerville to Dolores
- CO 184 Dolores to Mancos
- US 160 Mancos to Durango
Authorities say the highway will likely remain closed through Saturday June 2.
Fire behavior appeared to be calming as evening arrived.
Approximately 825 residences had been evacuated by evening; 750 residences were under pre-evacuation notices. Evacuation centers had been opened at Escalante Middle School in Durango and Silverton School in Silverton.
Smoke from the fire was visible in Pagosa Springs in the afternoon.
Durango Fire Protection District seeks kits for current and incoming firefighters. Items to include:
Wool type socks (Thorlo, Smartwool, etc.)
Energy bars
Trail mix
Beer jerky and other energy-type snacks
Bandanas
Chap stick/lip balm
Hard candy
Bottled water
Donations should be delivered to Station 1 in Bodo Park, 142 Sheppard Drive, from 10am to 2pm Saturday.
A note from U.S. Forest Service Facebook page regarding donations:
We have noted posts requesting donations for firefighters. These posts are not from the USFS. We are not seeking donations for our firefighters. Thank you for your concern.
Bill Hudson began sharing his opinions in the Pagosa Daily Post in 2004 and can’t seem to break the habit. He claims that, in Pagosa Springs, opinions are like pickup trucks: everybody has one.