The Ute 63 Fire in southwest La Plata County had grown to 550 acres as of Friday.
A change of command took place Friday morning, with a California Type 2 incident management team taking over operations.
A Thursday news release from the Bureau of Indian Affairs said the fire had reached 25% containment as of Thursday evening.
“We remain grateful to all agencies and personnel working tirelessly to protect our lands and communities,” the BIA said. “The public is reminded to stay clear of the fire area to ensure the safety and efficiency of emergency operations.”
A pre-evacuation notice remains in effect for 25 structures in the southwest corner of La Plata County. The release said there were no plans to initiate full-fledged evacuation as of Thursday.
The fire was first reported Sunday near Morgan Canyon just west of La Plata Highway (Colorado Highway 140) near the New Mexico state line.
Smoke is expected to remain visible in the region for the foreseeable future.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs did not respond to requests for additional details, including information about containment.
epond@durangoherald.com
