An out-of-control structure fire that forced evacuations in Pagosa Springs has begun to be contained as fire lines held throughout Monday, according to Archuleta County officials.

Located about 11 miles west of the The Springs Resort and hot springs in Pagosa Springs, the Oak fire ignited Sunday and grew to 150 acres before it reached 14% containment, lowering it to 75 acres as of Tuesday morning, according to incident officials.

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“There are still many active hot spots in the area, and fire crews will continue to work throughout the night and tomorrow morning on the perimeter and interior sections to ensure that all hazards near residences are addressed,” the Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post Monday night. “The evacuation area is still not safe for citizen to return.”

According to the office, the pre-evacuation notice for areas east of Elk Park Subdivision to North Pagosa Boulevard and Martinez Canyon has been lifted.

A Facebook post by the office Tuesday afternoon stated over 100,000 gallons of water and 80,000 gallons of retardant was dropped on Sunday. 

A mandatory evacuation order that was issued Sunday remained in place Tuesday for a 1-mile radius around 38 Spruce Circle in Aspen Springs, incident officials said.

On Sunday, Gov. Jared Polis declared a disaster emergency to support response efforts in Archuleta County in the southwestern part of the state. Polis also authorized the use of the National Guard to bolster firefighting efforts if necessary.

On Monday afternoon, the Federal Emergency Management Agency authorized a fire management assistance grant to aid with firefighting costs.

FEMA determined that the Oak fire’s rapid spread and proximity to 5,100 buildings and 2,000 homes “threatened such destruction that it would constitute a major disaster,” according to a Monday news release. 

Stoner Mesa fire

Another fire sparked in the San Juan National Forest doubled in size overnight. Ignited on July 28, the Stoner Mesa fire burned 6,618 acres and is at zero percent containment Tuesday, according to incident information website InciWeb.

The fire in Dolores County, near Rico, grew by more more than 3,000 acres overnight and was at 6,617 acres Tuesday morning, officials said.

During a community meeting on the fire Tuesday evening, the district ranger for the Dolores Fire District, Nick Mustoe, told those in attendance he believes fighting the fire on the mesa tops is a good plan after being “handed a pretty rough deck of cards” with fire conditions and terrain.

“I want this fire contained as quickly and as small as possible, that [way] we can be successful,” Mustoe said. “That’s where you’re seeing us come up on the mesa tops where we think we can be successful.”

“The firefighters have great resources and hopefully they will protect your assets like it was their own,” Dolores County Sheriff Don Wilson said during the meeting. “Hopefully this fire will stay where it’s at and it will kick itself in the a–.”

Pat Seekins, the San Juan Team 8 incident commander, said the fire will be “on the landscape for quite a while.” 

10 largest wildfires in Colorado history

The Stoner Mesa wildfire is one of several that are burning across western Colorado, including the Lee fire near Meeker that’s burned 116,859 acres and is 6% contained. It became the fifth-largest in state history over the past few days. 

Crosho fire

Officials in Routt County confirmed a fire near South Routt on Monday that grew to 100 acres overnight. According to a news release by the County on Tuesday, 110 firefighters are on the scene from Yampa Oak Creek and Steamboat Springs fire districts as well as federal fire teams. 

The fire reached private property on Tuesday but no structures are immediately threatened, the release stated. Firefighters are focused on protecting structures that may become threatened. 

Following news releases by the county throughout Tuesday announced some pre-evacuations and several road closures along county roads.

Routt County is under a Stage 2 fire restriction, prohibiting open fires, welding, internal combustion engines and more. 

Rifle Correctional Center inmates safely evacuated due to growth of Lee fire