Incident Media Photographs

This view shows some of the mosaic burn pattern of the Quartz Ridge Fire.  Some areas experienced intense burning, while others experienced moderate fire or no fire at all.

Photo credit: Andy Lyon

Large fires in Canada and activity in Texas will blanket the Midwest in light smoke through the period of 9/9/23 until 9/10/23. New fires near Santa Fe, New Mexico will generate higher concentrations of smoke in the southern Sangre De Cristo Mountains. This air will mix with smoke from fires on the San Juan National Forest to create minor smoke impacts across the Rio Grande basin in Colorado and New Mexico. 

Colorado Department of Health has issued an Air Quality Advisory for Eastern Archuleta and southern Mineral & Hinsdale Counties through 0900 Sunday 9/10/23. 

Bear Creek 

• Heaviest smoke concentrations will be within the Piedra River corridor east to Martinez Creek and south to Highway 160.
• Heaviest smoke may lift during the day and settle into Pagosa Springs by Sunday morning.

Quartz Ridge 

• Proximity to the divide will allow for better mixing of heavier smoke concentrations during daylight hours.
• The Rio Grands National Forest will receive heavier smoke in the Alamosa River drainage, north to Del Norte Peak on the Divide Ranger District. 
• Lighter concentrations will be noticeable throughout the southern San Luis Valley into Northern New Mexico. 

As expected during Sunday’s, August 20, warmer and drier weather, smoke from Quartz Ridge Fire increased during the afternoon. The smoke is mainly from interior burning inside the fire perimeter. The fire does not show any significant growth, and no structures or other values are threatened by this increased fire behavior. This photo was taken from the Wolf Creek Summit web camera at 4 pm on August 20.

Forest thick with dead and down timber