Swiss Roll Fire

Archuleta County · Started Aug 20, 2026 at 8:33 AM

777acres

100%contained

1personnel

Naturalcause

Aug 20discovered

Mapped perimeter as of Sep 13 from the National Interagency Fire Center

About this incident

The Swiss Roll Fire was started by lightning on the Pagosa Ranger District of the San Juan National Forest, approximately 20 miles northeast of Pagosa Springs, CO. It is east of U.S. Highway 160, south of East Fork Road (CR 667) near Quartz Meadow.

It was first discovered on August 20th and firefighters have not engaged in direct suppression tactics due to its remote location in stands of dead, beetle-killed timber. Falling trees are the number one cause of wildland firefighter fatalities and fire managers must weigh the threat of firefighters' lives against the fire's threat to values at risk (lives, property, and infrastructure). The Pagosa Ranger District is committed to its indirect suppression strategy on this fire and is taking suppression actions at predetermined points where crews can safely engage, including in Quartz Meadow.

As of mid-September, significant moisture has occurred over the Swiss Roll Fire, and this has moderated fire activity significantly, however, there are still multiple areas of smoldering heat from heavy dead and down. Firefighters remain present monitoring the fire and performing preparation actions.

The closure order has been lifted for the Swiss Roll Fire area. No closures are in effect.

Updates

11 · newest first

Oct 1, 2026, 11:05 AM
Containment on the Swiss Roll Fire reaches 100 percent
Containment improved from 93 to 100 percent. 777 acres, 100 percent contained, 1 personnel assigned.
Oct 1, 2026, 11:05 AM
Swiss Roll Fire declared out
Fire managers report this fire as out. Final mapped size 777 acres.
Sep 30, 2026, 3:15 PM
Update for wildfire: Swiss Roll Fire
Updated information for this wildfire:
The Swiss Roll Fire was started by lightning on the Pagosa Ranger District of the San Juan National Forest, approximately 20 miles northeast of Pagosa Springs, CO. It is east of U.S. Highway 160, south of East Fork Road (CR 667) near Quartz Meadow.
It was first discovered on August 20th and firefighters have not engaged in direct suppression tactics due to its remote location in stands of dead, beetle-killed timber. Falling trees are the number one cause of wildland firefighter fatalities and fire managers must weigh the threat of firefighters' lives against the fire's threat to values at risk (lives, property, and infrastructure). The Pagosa Ranger District is committed to its indirect suppression strategy on this fire and is taking suppression actions at predetermined points where crews can safely engage, including in Quartz Meadow.
As of mid-September, significant moisture has occurred over the Swiss Roll Fire, and this has moderated fire activity significantly, however, there are still multiple areas of smoldering heat from heavy dead and down. Firefighters remain present monitoring the fire and performing preparation actions.
The closure order has been lifted for the Swiss Roll Fire area. No closures are in effect.
Sep 28, 2026, 12:05 PM
Containment on the Swiss Roll Fire reaches 93 percent
Containment improved from 36 to 93 percent. 777 acres, 93 percent contained, 4 personnel assigned.
Sep 21, 2026, 9:15 PM
Update for wildfire: Swiss Roll Fire
Updated information for this wildfire:
The Swiss Roll Fire was started by lightning on the Pagosa Ranger District of the San Juan National Forest, approximately 20 miles northeast of Pagosa Springs, CO. It is east of U.S. Highway 160, south of East Fork Road (CR 667) near Quartz Meadow.
It was first discovered on August 20th and firefighters have not engaged in direct suppression tactics due to its remote location in stands of dead, beetle-killed timber. Falling trees are the number one cause of wildland firefighter fatalities and fire managers must weigh the threat of firefighters' lives against the fire's threat to values at risk (lives, property, and infrastructure). The Pagosa Ranger District is committed to its indirect suppression strategy on this fire and is taking suppression actions at predetermined points where crews can safely engage, including in Quartz Meadow.
As of mid-September, significant moisture has occurred over the Swiss Roll Fire, and this has moderated fire activity significantly, however, there are still multiple areas of smoldering heat from heavy dead and down. Firefighters remain present monitoring the fire and performing preparation actions.
The Pagosa Ranger District has issued a closure order for Quartz Meadow Road (NFSR 684), Quartz Creek Trail #571, and Quartz Ridge Trail #570. Quartz Ridge trail will be closed at the Quartz Ridge trailhead near the Silver Falls Guard Station. The western side of the Quartz Ridge trail #570 (from the Sand Creek trailhead) will be open for approximately 4 1/2 miles until it turns east.
Sep 19, 2026, 6:05 PM
Containment on the Swiss Roll Fire reaches 36 percent
Containment improved from 0 to 36 percent. 777 acres, 36 percent contained, 34 personnel assigned.
Sep 15, 2026, 3:15 PM
Update for wildfire: Swiss Roll Fire
Updated information for this wildfire:
The Swiss Roll Fire was started by lightning on the Pagosa Ranger District of the San Juan National Forest, approximately 20 miles northeast of Pagosa Springs, CO. It is east of U.S. Highway 160, south of East Fork Road (CR 667) near Quartz Meadow.
It was first discovered on August 20th and firefighters have not engaged in direct suppression tactics due to its remote location in stands of dead, beetle-killed timber. Falling trees are the number one cause of wildland firefighter fatalities and fire managers must weigh the threat of firefighters' lives against the fire's threat to values at risk (lives, property, and infrastructure). The Pagosa Ranger District is committed to its indirect suppression strategy on this fire and is taking suppression actions at predetermined points where crews can safely engage, including in Quartz Meadow.
The Pagosa Ranger District has issued a closure order for Quartz Meadow Road (NFSR 684), Quartz Creek Trail #571, and Quartz Ridge Trail #570. Quartz Ridge trail will be closed at the Quartz Ridge trailhead near the Silver Falls Guard Station. The western side of the Quartz Ridge trail #570 (from the Sand Creek trailhead) will be open for approximately 4 1/2 miles until it turns east.
Sep 13, 2026, 9:15 PM
Update for wildfire: Swiss Roll Fire
Updated information for this wildfire:
The Swiss Roll Fire was started by lightning on the Pagosa Ranger District of the San Juan National Forest, approximately 20 miles northeast of Pagosa Springs, CO. It is east of U.S. Highway 160, south of East Fork Road (CR 667) near Quartz Meadow.
It was first discovered on August 20th and firefighters have not engaged in direct suppression tactics due to its remote location in stands of dead, beetle-killed timber. Falling trees are the number one cause of wildland firefighter fatalities and fire managers must weigh the threat of firefighters' lives against the fire's threat to values at risk (lives, property, and infrastructure). The Pagosa Ranger District is committed to its indirect suppression strategy on this fire and is taking suppression actions at predetermined points where crews can safely engage, including in Quartz Meadow.
The Pagosa Ranger District will be issuing a closure order for Quartz Meadow Road (NFSR 684), Quartz Creek Trail #571, and Quartz Ridge Trail #570. Quartz Ridge trail will be closed at the Quartz Ridge trailhead near the Silver Falls Guard Station. The western side of the Quartz Ridge trail #570 (from the Sand Creek trailhead) will be open for approximately 4 1/2 miles until it turns east.
Sep 13, 2026, 6:05 PM
Swiss Roll Fire grows to 775 acres
Mapped size increased from 370 to 775 acres. 775 acres, 0 percent contained, 61 personnel assigned.
Sep 12, 2026, 6:15 PM
Update for wildfire: Swiss Roll Fire
Updated information for this wildfire:
The Swiss Roll Fire was started by lightning on the Pagosa Ranger District of the San Juan National Forest, approximately 20 miles northeast of Pagosa Springs, CO. It is east of U.S. Highway 160, south of East Fork Road (CR 667) near Quartz Meadow.
It was first discovered on August 20th and firefighters have not engaged in direct suppression tactics due to its remote location in stands of dead, beetle-killed timber. Falling trees are the number one cause of wildland firefighter fatalities and fire managers must weigh the threat of firefighters' lives against the fire's threat to values at risk (lives, property, and infrastructure). The Pagosa Ranger District is committed to its indirect suppression strategy on this fire and intends to take suppression actions if/when the fire meets predetermined points where crews could safely engage, including in Quartz Meadow.
The Pagosa Ranger District will be issuing a closure order for Quartz Meadow Road (NFSR 684), Quartz Creek Trail #571, and Quartz Ridge Trail #570. Quartz Ridge trail will be closed at the Quartz Ridge trailhead near the Silver Falls Guard Station. The western side of the Quartz Ridge trail #570 (from the Sand Creek trailhead) will be open for approximately 4 1/2 miles until it turns east.
Sep 12, 2026, 11:05 AM
Swiss Roll Fire grows to 369 acres
Mapped size increased from 30 to 369 acres. 369 acres.

Size, containment, and perimeter come from the National Interagency Fire Center. Narrative comes from InciWeb. For life-threatening emergencies call 911.