Ferris Fire forces evacuations across southwest Colorado, grows past 60,000 acres

The San Juan National Forest closed Bradfield Campground, Dry Canyon Day Use Area, Glade Guard Station and The Glade as the Ferris Fire burned across an estimated 57,356 acres and reached 19 percent containment. Governor Jared Polis declared a disaster emergency for Dolores and Montezuma counties.

The closure order also kept people off all access points to Bradfield Bridge campground and the campgrounds upriver to the base of McPhee Dam. Dry Canyon recreation area and NFSR 510 stayed open, but lands, roads and trails west of NFSR 510 were off limits. Bureau of Land Management incident maps marked campground and road closures on public land, and the intersection of County Road 16 and County Road S in Dolores County was restricted to all travelers.

Evacuations widened across the canyon country. About 115 homes were evacuated in Dolores and Montezuma counties, with additional properties under pre-evacuation status. Dolores County Emergency Management said the GO area covered everything east of County Road 15 between the Montezuma County line and County Road H.6, and San Miguel County later moved residents in Zone 16 to mandatory evacuation. Dolores County Sheriff Don Wilson told residents to stay out of closed areas and keep roads clear for fire crews.

The blaze was difficult to attack because it was chewing through steep canyon terrain, dry fuels and limited access while weather kept shifting. California Interagency Incident Management Team 7 took command of the incident, with Tom Clemo listed as incident commander, and about 557 personnel were on the fire at the handoff. The fire began as the Far Draw, Doe Canyon and Ferris fires before merging into one incident.

The American Red Cross opened sheltering for evacuees, and a shelter at Pleasant View Charter School was set up to house and feed about 40 people and allow pets. By July 11, the Ferris Fire had grown large enough to rank among Colorado’s 10 largest recorded fires.