Rio Blanco Fire

Archuleta County · Started Jul 28, 2026 at 3:11 PM

1,388acres

100%contained

26personnel

Naturalcause

Jul 28discovered

Mapped perimeter as of Aug 8 from the National Interagency Fire Center

About this incident

The Rio Blanco Fire is burning south of 8-mile Mesa, approximately 9 miles south of Pagosa Springs on Valle Seco B Road (NFSR 653). The cause is undetermined at this time.

The Valle Seco Road (NFSR 653) and all spur roads are closed to the public. An official road closure will be in place soon. The public should avoid the area north of the Valle Seco Road.

Closures: The San Juan National Forest has multiple road closures in place, including the Valle Seco Road (NFSR 653) and all associated spur roads.

Evacuations: No evacuations remain in place. Firefighters, utility crews and heavy equipment are working in the area completing suppression, hazard mitigation, repair work and conducting patrol operations. Residents are asked to stay alert, drive slowly and yield the right-of-way to emergency vehicles and fire personnel.

Updates

19 · newest first

Aug 18, 2026, 8:05 PM
Rio Blanco Fire declared out
Fire managers report this fire as out. Final mapped size 1,388 acres.
Aug 13, 2026, 5:05 PM
Containment on the Rio Blanco Fire reaches 97 percent
Containment improved from 91 to 97 percent. 1,388 acres, 97 percent contained, 85 personnel assigned.
Aug 11, 2026, 9:15 AM
Update for wildfire: Rio Blanco Fire
Updated information for this wildfire:
The Rio Blanco Fire is burning south of 8-mile Mesa, approximately 9 miles south of Pagosa Springs on Valle Seco B Road (NFSR 653). The cause is undetermined at this time.
The Valle Seco Road (NFSR 653) and all spur roads are closed to the public. An official road closure will be in place soon. The public should avoid the area north of the Valle Seco Road.
Closures: The San Juan National Forest has multiple road closures in place, including the Valle Seco Road (NFSR 653) and all associated spur roads.
Evacuations: No evacuations remain in place. Firefighters, utility crews and heavy equipment are working in the area completing suppression, hazard mitigation, repair work and conducting patrol operations. Residents are asked to stay alert, drive slowly and yield the right-of-way to emergency vehicles and fire personnel.
Aug 10, 2026, 6:05 PM
Containment on the Rio Blanco Fire reaches 91 percent
Containment improved from 79 to 91 percent. 1,388 acres, 91 percent contained, 154 personnel assigned.
Aug 9, 2026, 9:15 PM
Update for wildfire: Rio Blanco Fire
Updated information for this wildfire:
The Rio Blanco Fire is burning south of 8-mile Mesa, approximately 9 miles south of Pagosa Springs on Valle Seco B Road (NFSR 653). The cause is undetermined at this time.
The Valle Seco Road (NFSR 653) and all spur roads are closed to the public. An official road closure will be in place soon. The public should avoid the area north of the Valle Seco Road.
Closures/Evacuations: The San Juan National Forest has multiple road closures in place, including the Valle Seco Road (NFSR 653). The Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife has lifted boating restrictions on Echo Canyon Reservoir. All residential evacuations have been lifted. Residents returning to the area are asked to remain alert, use caution around fire crews and equipment still working in the neighborhood.
Aug 8, 2026, 6:05 PM
Containment on the Rio Blanco Fire reaches 79 percent
Containment improved from 63 to 79 percent. 1,388 acres, 79 percent contained, 202 personnel assigned.
Aug 7, 2026, 7:06 PM
Containment on the Rio Blanco Fire reaches 63 percent
Containment improved from 55 to 63 percent. 1,388 acres, 63 percent contained, 316 personnel assigned.
Aug 6, 2026, 12:15 PM
Update for wildfire: Rio Blanco Fire
Updated information for this wildfire:
The Rio Blanco Fire is burning south of 8 mile Mesa, approximately 9 miles south of Pagosa Springs on Valle Seco B Road (NFSR 653). The cause is undetermined at this time.
The Valle Seco Road (NFSR 653) and all spur roads are closed to the public. An official road closure will be in place soon. The public should avoid the area north of the Valle Seco Road.
Closures/Evacuations: The Archuleta County Sheriff’s Officehas lifted the pre-evacuation order for the Pinion Hills area along County Road 500. The evacuation order for County Road 335 Lower Blanco and pre-evacuation order for County Roads 337 and 339 remain in place. Contact the Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office at (970) 508-9928 for more information about evacuations and private land closures. The San Juan National Forest has multiple road closures in place, including the Valle Seco Road (NFSR 653). Colorado Parks and Wildlife has temporarily closed boating access at Echo Canyon Reservoir to allow aircraft to safely operate.
Aug 5, 2026, 6:06 PM
Containment on the Rio Blanco Fire reaches 55 percent
Containment improved from 12 to 55 percent. 1,388 acres, 55 percent contained, 401 personnel assigned.
Aug 5, 2026, 6:06 PM
Rio Blanco Fire grows to 1,388 acres
Mapped size increased from 1,246 to 1,388 acres. 1,388 acres, 55 percent contained, 401 personnel assigned.
Aug 1, 2026, 7:05 PM
Containment on the Rio Blanco Fire reaches 13 percent
Containment improved from 0 to 13 percent. 1,011 acres, 13 percent contained, 335 personnel assigned.
Aug 1, 2026, 7:05 PM
Rio Blanco Fire grows to 1,011 acres
Mapped size increased from 783 to 1,011 acres. 1,011 acres, 13 percent contained, 335 personnel assigned.
Jul 31, 2026, 9:15 PM
Update for wildfire: Rio Blanco Fire
Updated information for this wildfire:
The Rio Blanco Fire is burning south of 8 mile Mesa, approximately 9 miles south of Pagosa Springs on Valle Seco B Road (NFSR 653). The cause is undetermined at this time.
The Valle Seco Road (NFSR 653) and all spur roads are closed to the public. An official road closure will be in place soon. The public should avoid the area north of the Valle Seco Road.
Evacuations are in place for CR 335 Lower Blanco, and Pre-Evacuation Orders in place for CR 337, 339, and Pinon Hills area along CR 500, per Archuleta County Sheriff's Office. The Pagosa Springs High School will be set up for evacuees. Large animals can be housed at the CSU Extension Building on Hwy 84 and the Pagosa Springs Humane Society will be available for smaller domestic animals. Call Archuleta County at (970) 508-9928 for more information about evacuations and closures.
Jul 31, 2026, 6:05 PM
Rio Blanco Fire grows to 783 acres
Mapped size increased from 687 to 783 acres. 783 acres, 0 percent contained, 205 personnel assigned.
Jul 31, 2026, 12:15 PM
Update for wildfire: Rio Blanco Fire
Updated information for this wildfire:
The Rio Blanco Fire is burning south of Eightmile Mesa, approximately 9 miles south of Pagosa Springs on Valle Seco B Road (NFSR 653). The cause is undetermined at this time.
The Valle Seco Road (NFSR 653) and all spur roads are closed to the public. An official road closure will be in place soon. The public should avoid the area north of the Valle Seco Road.
Evacuations are in place for CR 335 Lower Blanco, and Pre-Evacuation Orders in place for CR 337, 339, and Pinon Hills area along CR 500, per Archuleta County Sheriff's Office. The Pagosa Springs High School will be set up for evacuees. Large animals can be housed at the CSU Extension Building on Hwy 84 and the Pagosa Springs Humane Society will be available for smaller domestic animals. Call Archuleta County at (970) 508-9928 for more information about evacuations and closures.
Jul 30, 2026, 9:15 PM
Update for wildfire: Rio Blanco Fire
Updated information for this wildfire:
The Rio Blanco Fire is burning south of Eightmile Mesa, approximately 9 miles south of Pagosa Springs on Valle Seco B Road (NFSR 653). The cause is undetermined at this time.
The Valle Seco Road (NFSR 653) and all spur roads are closed to the public. An official road closure will be in place soon. The public should avoid the area north of the Valle Seco Road.
Evacuations are in place for CR 335 Lower Blanco, and Pre-Evacuation Orders in place for CR 337, 339, and Pinon Hills area along CR 500, per Archuleta County Sheriff's Office. The Pagosa Springs High School will be set up for evacuees. The fair grounds will be available for livestock and the Pagosa Springs Humane Society will be available for smaller domestic animals. Call Archuleta County at (970) 508-9928 for more information about evacuations and closures.
Jul 30, 2026, 7:05 PM
Rio Blanco Fire grows to 687 acres
Mapped size increased from 440 to 687 acres. 687 acres, 0 percent contained, 88 personnel assigned.
Jul 29, 2026, 9:15 PM
Update for wildfire: Rio Blanco Fire
Updated information for this wildfire:
The Rio Blanco Fire is burning south of Eightmile Mesa, approximately 12 miles south of Pagosa Springs on Valle Seco B Road (NFSR 653). The cause is undetermined at this time.
The Valle Seco Road (NFSR 653) and all spur roads are closed to the public. An official road closure will be in place soon. The public should avoid the area north of the Valle Seco Road.
Evacuations are in place for CR 335 Lower Blanco, and Pre-Evacuation Orders in place for CR 337, 339, and Pinon Hills area along CR 500, per Archuleta County Sheriff's Office. The Pagosa Springs High School will be set up for evacuees. The fair grounds will be available for livestock and the Pagosa Springs Humane Society will be available for smaller domestic animals. Call Archuleta County at (970) 508-9928 for more information about evacuations and closures.
Jul 29, 2026, 1:05 PM
Rio Blanco Fire grows to 440 acres
Mapped size increased from 120 to 440 acres. 440 acres, 0 percent contained.

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