The Plateau Fire, burning about 14 miles northeast of Dolores, has grown to 4,000 acres, and the San Juan National Forest on Thursday announced that it was expanding its road closures east to the Dolores-Norwood Road and south to House Creek Road, near the eastern dock of McPhee Reservoir.
Access to the lake shore from McPhee is allowed, and the northern and western closure boundaries were unchanged.
Also on Thursday, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment issued an air quality advisory until 9 a.m. Friday for portions of west-central and Southwest Colorado, including Montezuma, Dolores and La Plata counties. The most vulnerable residents are those with heart disease or respiratory illnesses and the very young and the elderly.
The smoke originates from fires in New Mexico and Southwest Colorado, the San Juan National Forest said.
Apparently caused by a lightning strike, the Plateau Fire is burning conifer fuels in the steep and rugged terrain of the Plateau Canyon.
On Thursday, calmer winds and higher humidity helped moderate fire behavior, said public information officer Rob Kopack. There’s a chance of rain through Friday, although the storms may increase the chance of erratic winds and the risk of fire growth.
The fire was 15 percent contained as of Thursday, and full containment was estimated for Aug. 15.
On Wednesday, lower temperatures, calmer winds and high humidity helped firefighters keep the growth in check at 3,415 acres. Crews spent the day igniting controlled burns along roads to create and reinforce control lines.
On Tuesday, the fire grew to 2,800 acres as low humidity and high winds combined to push the fire into a 2-mile run. Firefighters were able to hold the fire at Forest Service Road 524.
The Plateau Fire was discovered July 22 after smoke was reported near Salter Y. By Monday night, it grew to 1,000 acres, though much of the fire’s early growth was attributed to back-burning efforts by firefighters to create fire lines.
There is no private land in the Plateau Fire burn area.
About 125 personnel are working on the Plateau and West Guard fires, which are about 13 miles apart and burning on the San Juan National Forest in Dolores County. Both are being managed for full suppression, and equipment includes five engines, a water tender, a helicopter and a heavy-duty brushcutter and skidgeon.
“There has been quite a bit of burnout operations in Plateau over the last several days,” Kopack said. “Plateau has got more burnout and work ahead.”
The West Guard Fire, west of the Glade Guard station northwest of Dolores, has scorched 1,405 acres, up from 100 acres last week. It was 80 percent contained on Thursday.
Kopack said West Guard crews were mopping up and monitoring the fire, and felling hazardous trees. The fire was described as “smoldering.”
The West Guard Fire was discovered July 22 by a helicopter working on the Plateau Fire, the news release from the San Juan National Forest said.
The air quality advisory includes Garfield, Mesa, Delta, Montrose, Ouray, San Miguel, Dolores, San Juan, Montezuma, La Plata, and western Eagle and southern Rio Blanco counties.
