Three wildfires near Pleasant View burn 5,800 acres, prompt evacuations
Three fires northeast of Pleasant View forced evacuations and road closures as winds pushed the blazes to 5,800 acres by Saturday night.
Three wildfires northeast of Pleasant View forced evacuations Saturday as flames raced across the Glade area near the Montezuma and Dolores county line and grew to 5,800 acres by 8:50 p.m. The Ferris Fire, Doe Fire and Far Draw Fire closed parts of the road network around Bradfield Bridge Campground and McPhee Dam, and evacuees were sent to the Pleasant View Fire Station on Road CC.
The largest of the three, the Ferris Fire, reached 4,777 acres with no containment. The Far Draw Fire stood at 649 acres with no containment, and the Doe Fire was listed at 385 acres. Extreme winds, high temperatures, low humidity and dry fuels were driving the rapid spread northeast, making it unsafe for ground crews and aircraft to fully engage.
Evacuations were ordered for Lone Dome Road, Bradfield Bridge Campground and Forest Service Road 521 up to McPhee Dam. Bradfield Bridge Campground was closed, along with Forest Service Road 504 south to the base of McPhee Dam, while crews conducted safety sweeps on roads 521 and 504. A Montezuma County alert told people in the Lone Dome Road and Bradfield Campground area to leave immediately to the west.
The three fires were lightning-caused, though that had not been officially confirmed. Crews were using an indirect suppression strategy aimed at stopping the fires as quickly as possible while protecting lives, property, ecosystems and firefighter safety. Engines, crews, air attack and a Type 1 helicopter were in place, large air tankers were dropping retardant, and more engines, crews, a Type 1 helicopter, a Type 3 helicopter and other support personnel were ordered.
The Pleasant View Fire Protection District covers about 385 square miles in northern Montezuma County and southern Dolores County. The Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management activated the state emergency operations center at Response Level 2, and a field manager was monitoring the Ferris and Far Draw fires for resource and support needs at the Pleasant View Fire Station.
A Red Flag Warning was in effect from Friday through Sunday for gusty winds, low relative humidity and dry fuels. State records show all 20 of Colorado's largest wildfires have happened since 2002. Residents were directed to InciWeb, DHSEM and San Juan National Forest channels for updates. Report a fire by calling 911.
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