The Dry Lake Fire is a lightning-caused fire currently burning on San Juan National Forest land in Archuleta County, Colorado. The resulting fire size is 1,372 acres with 11% containment, and no further growth is expected.
Over 130 fire personnel are assigned to the fire, which is burning in the First Notch area on the Columbine Ranger District. The lightning-caused fire started within a network of Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) trails and Forest Service System Roads that are being used as containment lines.
The two-day blacklining operation has been successfully completed along the entire perimeter containment line, adding width to the existing network of Forest Service System Roads and Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) trails being used as containment features. In conjunction with blacklining, interior pockets of vegetation were burned with an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), or drone.
Smoke will be visible to travelers along US Highway 160 between Bayfield and Pagosa Springs, and to some residents in La Plata and Archuleta counties. Please watch for extra fire traffic in the area and along First Notch Road (FR 620) this week and into next week.
Timber (litter and understory) and brush (2 feet)
The fire is currently burning in Ponderosa Pine and Gambel Oak. In addition, within the planning area, there are small pockets of mixed conifer.
Moderate fire behavior with backing and flanking fire and single-tree torching.
Outlook Planned Actions
Holding, securing, and patrolling perimeter of fire. Monitoring outside firelines for potential spots.
Projected Incident Activity
Moderate fire intensity and rate of spread as fire backs towards southerly control features. Slight threat to KV powerlines from low intensity fire. Holding, securing and patrolling perimeter of fire. Monitoring outside firelines for potential spots.
Current Weather Weather Concerns
Warm, dry, and windy conditions were observed on Saturday. Daytime highs in the low to middle 80s, with west-southwest winds of 10-20mph, gusts to 25mph during the afternoon. This was a day of elevated fire weather risk due to poor relative humidity values, breezy winds, and warm temperatures. Very poor overnight relative humidity recovery values wwere present. The outlook for Sunday was red flag warning conditions, warm temperatures, wind gusts up to 25-30mph at times, and minimum humidity values of 8-12 percent by Sunday afternoon.