Many areas in the San Juan National Forest that were closed by the West Fork Complex, three fires in the Wolf Creek Pass region, are again open to the public.
Otherwise, the West Fork Complex, which began June 5 and ended up as three fires that torched 109,615 acres in the San Juan and Rio Grande national forests, finally has dropped from the news.
The status of the fire complex is listed as “inactive” on the incident command website. Rain and higher humidity helped reduce the fire’s spread, the website says. Firefighters have spent the last several days recovering equipment and rehabilitating land disturbed by firefighting and structure-protection efforts.
The three fires – West Fork, Windy Pass and Papoose – caused by lightning, burned in heavy stands of beetle-killed spruce and fir in the San Juan and Rio Grande national forests and on private land.
The size of the areas closed by the fire in San Juan National Forest was reduced Monday, a U.S. Forest Service announcement said.
As of Wednesday, the West Fork Campground southwest of Wolf Creek Pass was open, but areas beyond the developed campground are off-limits.
West Fork Road beyond the campground is closed to motor vehicles, but foot traffic is permitted for about one-half mile (to the junction with Forest Road 003). Forest Road 003 is open only to foot traffic.
About 26,300 acres of the West Fork drainage in the Pagosa Ranger District remain closed. Included is West Fork Trail 561 (also known as Rainbow Hot Spring Trail).
The Continental Divide Trail along the north end of the closed area is open to travel. However, the Weminuche Wilderness in Rio Grande National Forest is closed.
daler@durangoherald.com
For more info
A map showing the new closed area is available at www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/sanjuan/alerts-notices. More information is available at the Pagosa Ranger District by calling 264-2268.
Information about closed areas east of the Continental Divide is available from the Rio Grande National Forest at (719) 852-5941.
