The Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office issued an emergency evacuation order for Lower Blanco, County Road 335 at about 4:10pm on Tuesday, July 28. The message was distributed via text messages and phone calls.
This is an emergency message from the Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office.
An evacuation order is in effect for Lower Blanco CR 335.
Leave immediately. Danger is imminent and life-threatening. If you chose to ignore this order, emergency services may not be able to assist you.
An evacuation center is set up at Pagosa Springs High School.
For more information about the incident, call 970-508-9928.
Please 1 to confirm receipt.
Update, 9:11pm: The Rio Blanco Fire is estimated at approximately 120 acres in size, burning south of Eightmile Mesa, approximately 12 miles south of Pagosa Springs on Valle Seco B Road (NFSR 653). The cause is undetermined at this time.
Ground crews are on-scene sizing up the fire and working to protect structures, utilizing dozer lines, engines and aerial support.
The local San Juan Type 3 Incident Management Team 8 has been ordered to the incident and is assessing the best firefighting strategies. The fire received some moisture this afternoon but is very active and burning in steep canyons along NFRS 653. The forecast is projecting higher temperatures with little precipitation for the next week and the San Juan National Forest is taking aggressive actions to suppress this wildfire. Structural and resource protections, as well as firefighter safety, are the main priorities for this incident.
Tomorrow, Team 8 will hold a morning briefing to assess firefighting tactics moving forward.
The fairgrounds will be available for livestock and the Pagosa Springs Humane Society will be available for smaller domestic animals.