By the end of Day Two, the Oak Fire west of Pagosa Springs had been downgraded from 150 acres to 75 acres, and by evening on Monday August 11, the Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office was listing the fire as “14% contained”. Photos shared by the Sheriff’s Office on Monday showed very little active flames or smoke.
The fire originated at 38 Spruce Circle, in Aspen Springs Unit 1.
The shared map showed a fire consisting of smaller separate burned areas, rather than one continuous range.
I assume the “pinkish” tones in the shared photos reflect the large amounts of fire retardant dropped by aircraft.
From the Sheriff’s Office:
Fire containment lines were held throughout the day today, with over 100 personnel on the ground ensuring that flare ups and hot spots were actively worked. The Oak Fire is now at 14% containment, with this encompassing the perimeter around the North West section.
There are still many active hot spots in the area and fire crews will continue to work throughout the night and tomorrow morning on the perimeter and interior sections to ensure that all hazards near residences are addressed. The evacuation area is still not safe for citizens to return.
The Pre-Evacuation notice is being lifted. This impacts the areas east of Elk Park Subdivision to North Pagosa Blvd, and for residents on North Pagosa Blvd to Martinez Canyon.
The images below show the impacted area from heat map imagery and additional photos provided by some of our 1st Responders working in the area.
It would appear, from the post recent postings, that residents are not yet allowed back into the “evacuation area” affected by the fire. The people evacuated have been accommodated at the Pagosa Springs High School or are staying with friends.
An earlier posting by the Sheriff’s Office, on Monday evening:
This is a map of the current evacuation area. The area is still unavailable for any access as fire crews continue to work in the area. Teams are working to fully assess the area today so a decision can be made this evening regarding reentry at the earliest opportunity.
The unofficial reports I’ve heard (which is to say, “rumors”) suggest that the fire resulted from a homeowner burning trash in a barrel, and additionally, that only one house was destroyed by the fire.
The general direction of the fire, on Sunday, was easterly, towards the community’s primary residential areas in Pagosa Lakes.
From the Denver Post, on Monday:
More than half a dozen wildfires continued to burn across Colorado Monday morning, including a new fire that sparked in Pagosa Springs.
Firefighters have been able to get control over several of the blazes as hot and dry conditions — especially in western and southern portions of the state — pose risks for new fires to start.
The newest wildfire — the Oak fire — sparked on Sunday afternoon in Pagosa Springs and resulted in mandatory evacuations in two subdivisions and was about 75 acres, according to the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control.
As of Monday evening, the fire threatened more than 5,100 buildings and 2,000 homes, according to a news release from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. On Monday, FEMA released federal money to cover up to 75% of Colorado’s firefighting costs after determining it threatened enough damage to be classified as a major disaster, the agency’s news release stated.
I’ve not yet heard any estimates of what the firefighting effort may have cost so far.
Here’s a map from nonprofit WatchDuty.com, showing the proximity of the fire, on Monday, to a major residential area.
