Dolores County to hold Ferris Fire community meeting in Dove Creek

Dolores County officials gathered residents in Dove Creek Thursday night to answer the questions that have shaped daily life since the Ferris Fire spread through the Dolores River Canyon: which roads stayed closed, when people could return home and how long repair work would last.

The community meeting was held at 6 p.m. at the Dolores County Public Service Center, 8477 Road 7.7, and the county said it was livestreamed for people who were displaced, working or unable to travel into town. The online feed widened access for residents spread across rural Dolores County, where wildfire updates quickly become household decisions about travel, livestock, communications and whether a back road is safe to use.

By the time of the meeting, firefighting had begun to shift. KJCT reported July 16 that crews were moving from active suppression to repair, mopping up remaining hotspots, fixing suppression damage and removing equipment from the fireline. The fire had reached 64,869 acres and 53% containment with 1,105 personnel assigned. WatchDuty later listed it at 64,881 acres and 59% containment on July 17, showing the incident had entered a more controlled phase even as residents still needed clarity on closures and return plans.

The questions surrounding the fire changed quickly over the previous two weeks. On June 30, KSJD reported the fire had burned 21,279 acres and was 0% contained, with evacuation orders in place for Lone Dome Rd., Bradfield Campground, Road 521 up to McPhee Dam and Glade Ranch. By July 6, KKTV put the fire at 47,780 acres and 21% containment. CPR reported the next day that about 115 homes had been evacuated in Dolores and Montezuma counties, with more under pre-evacuation status.

The fire then pushed farther across the region. KKCO reported July 13 that it had grown to more than 64,000 acres and 29% containment, while the Durango Herald said it crossed the Dolores River Canyon and triggered additional evacuations. Residents who needed shelter were directed to Pleasant View Fire Department. Montezuma County also posted that multiple roads and trails were closed until further notice because of the wildfire, underscoring how access restrictions reached well beyond the burn perimeter.

The July 16 meeting gave residents a place to hear directly about what remained closed, what evacuation status applied and what the next operational steps would be in Dolores, Montezuma and San Miguel counties. For people deciding whether to come home, move stock, or trust a road into the canyon, those details carried immediate weight.