Windy Pass: 1,417 acres Cause: Lightning
West Fork: 56,568 acres
Yesterday we saw some smoke over camp and some definite ash falling from the sky. Though smoke still lingers we’ve been grateful for some good rain showers the past 4 days.
“Yesterday, fire activity increased in the southeast corner of Papoose, spreading in areas of beetle-killed spruce and old logging slash. Smoke and ash were observed in Pagosa Springs. Sustained winds at 20 miles per hour, from the north and northwest, pushed the fire into Copper Creek, west of Red Mountain Ranch. The fire was burning deep into the interior and was not a threat to structures. Similar weather and extreme fire behavior is expected again today. As long as the fire continues to burn in these stands of dead spruce, smoke will be more typical. “