Forest Service Road 630 (The East Monument Road) has been closed due to fire activity and to allow access for firefighting apparatus. The closure is being set at the intersection of FSR 630 and FSR 629 (Turkey Springs Road). See the closure map and closure order on this page for additional details.

Update: October 23, 2023

Type 3 Team, Incident Commander Pat Seekins 

Overview:

The two new wildfires burning in the Pagosa Springs area both grew significantly over the weekend. Aerial mapping shows the Trail Springs Fire is now 521 acres, and the Mill Creek 2 fire has grown to 110 acres. Both fires were discovered on October 19th. Investigators have determined the Trail Springs Fire was caused by lightning; the Mill Creek 2 Fire is still under investigation.

Trail Springs Fire | Size:500 Acres | Containment: 0% | Cause: Lightning

The Trail Springs Fire is burning on thickly-forested, sloped terrain above West Devil Creek, about 3 miles northwest of Chris Mountain. Unseasonably warm temperatures, and low humidity have contributed to increased fire behavior. especially in mid-to-late afternoon.

As of this morning the fire remains west of Forest Road 630, and it 2 miles south of the Piedra Valley Ranch. More firefighting resources are arriving daily.  Fire managers are working to implement firefighting tactics that protect values at risk and develop fire control lines in locations with the best probability of success. 

Mill Creek Fire |Size: 110 Acres | Containment: 0% | Cause: Undetermined

The Mill Creek 2 Fire increased significantly in size on Saturday, as it burned intensely through a heavy load of mixed conifer and dead and down logs. The fire has lost much of its intensity since then, as it has run into rocky terrain and lost its access to fuels.

The fire is located 10 miles northeast of Pagosa Springs in high, remote terrain, leading towards the South San Juan Wilderness. Because of the extremely difficult access and firefighter risk, firefighters are not being sent in to engage the fire. No homes, ranches or private holdings are at risk.  Firefighters continue to closely watch fire behavior and assess potential control options should the fire move to lower ground.

Weather:

High temperatures Monday in the low 60s, with higher humidity. Gusty winds in the afternoon.  Tuesday will be cooler, with a slight chance of rain.

San Juan NF Temporary Closures: On the Trail Springs Fire, FS 630 (East Monument) is closed to the public due to increased fire activity and the need to allow access for firefighting apparatus. 

The last remaining Special Closure within the Quartz Ridge Fire area has been terminated. The Quartz Creek Trail (NFST#571) has been re-opened by the Pagosa Springs Ranger District to recreational use. 

District Staff remind visitors that the presence of smoldering logs and dispersed areas of smoke may remain and be visible from the trail. Please use caution when traveling through previously burned areas.

Oct. 23, 2023—Fire crews have determined there is no need to continue with hand and aerial ignitions for the broadcast prescribed fire in the 841-acre Blas Unit within the Canjilon Wildland Urban Interface Project. They have been mopping up while patrolling and monitoring the burn area since Sunday and will continue throughout the week.

Personnel will remain in the area to continue checking the fire by walking the unit boundary, mopping up edges, falling hazard trees and monitoring any remaining interior burning. Light smoke may be observed at times from interior smoldering pockets of unburned fuels, but no further growth is expected.

The area is experiencing low to moderate intensity fire effects, allowing for a healthier forest while creating a strong buffer against future wildfires around the communities of Canjilon and Placita Garcia. The nearby 899-acre Montoya Unit will be addressed in the future.

The area remains open, but locals and visitors should take caution when entering a recently burned area. Motorists should slow down when in the area and near fire crews or equipment.

Since 2011, Forest Service staff and partners have been thinning and applying prescribed fire around the communities of Canjilon and Placita Garcia, which are surrounded by Carson National Forest. Many adjacent private landowners, with the assistance of the state, are contributing by thinning and applying prescribed fire on their properties. A map that shows how the Montoya and Blas units fit into the bigger picture is available online.

The Canjilon project is part of the 3.8 million-acre Rio Chama Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Project, which supports the National Wildfire Crisis Strategy.

Oct 23, 2023—Fire managers are postponing ignitions of piles within the Taos Ski Valley resort area due to weather. The chances of precipitation over the area has decreased.

When treated, the Taos Ski Valley specials use permit burn piles will address fuels reduction within the resort boundary. The piles are mostly the result of clean-up after the December 2021 snow squall, which brought hurricane force winds to the area that fell thousands of trees. Some piles were also created from regular hazard tree mitigation and new trail development.

Piles currently visible along Highway 150 and the Wheeler Peak Trail are slated for burning this winter. They were created from 300 acres of thinning as part of the Highway 150 Corridor Wildland Urban Interface Project.

When future opportunities for pile burning are forecasted, information will be posted on InciWeb, New Mexico Fire Information and Carson National Forest social media channels (Facebook, X).

Unit in patrol status as of Oct. 20, 2023.

76 acres accomplished on Oct. 20. No further ignitions planned. Resources working to hold and secure perimeter of burn. Smoke may be visible for several days to weeks after ignitions are completed.

Pending favorable conditions, firefighters on the Lolo National Forest will continue to burn piles today to reduce hazardous fuel, a key component of the Wildfire Crisis Strategy. 

Missoula Ranger District: Firefighters will conduct up to 30 acres of hand pile burning to reduce material left over from previous management operations. The pile burning operation is located west of Marshall Canyon approximately 3 miles northwest of Missoula, MT. Smoke may be visible from the Rattlesnake, Missoula, Bonner and parts of the I-90 corridor.

Ninemile Ranger District:  Firefighters will ignite up to 40 acres of hand pile burning located 2 miles south of the Ninemile District Office, and 9 acres of piles 5 miles west of Tarkio in the Quartz Creek drainage. Smoke may be visible from the Ninemile Valley, Tarkio and Interstate 90.

Superior Ranger District: Firefighters will conduct prescribed fire operations (pile burn) in two locations near Lost Creek/Cedar Creek; 11 miles southeast of Superior and Second Creek; 10 miles northeast of Superior.  Residents in Cedar Creek, Superior, Ninemile, and Lozeau may see smoke during operations.

Firefighters will implement, patrol and monitor the pile burning over the next few days.

Learn more about prescribed fires here.