ARCHULETA COUNTY, Colo. — Mandatory evacuations are in place for residents along a county road in Archuleta County as a wildfire burning on National Forest land spreads in the area.
The Archuleta County Sheriff's Office said the evacuation applies to people off of County Road 335, also called Lower Blanco Road. Anybody on County Road 337, 339 and Pinion Hills subdivision off County Road 500 are under an evacuation warning.
The fire was first reported Tuesday around 3 p.m. and is burning 12 miles south of Pagosa Springs on Valle Seco B Road. The U.S. Forest Service is reporting that the fire is 120 acres. Watch Duty shows it has grown to 440 acres. Aircraft has not been able map out the exact perimeter, so the definite number of burned acres is not confirmed.
Anybody who has evacuated is welcome to go to the Pagosa Springs High School. Livestock can be brought to the county fairgrounds.
The Pagosa Springs Humane Society is open for smaller domestic animals. For more information, call 970-508-9928.
Ground crews are on-scene sizing up the fire and working to protect structures, utilizing dozer lines, engines, and aerial support, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
The forecast calls for hotter, drier conditions over the next week as firefighters continue aggressive suppression efforts.
There have been no reports of injuries or structural loss at this time. Information on the origin and cause was not released.
