GO NOW Zone 14A: Dolores County Road H.6 North to County Road E and County Road 8.7 East to Canyon Rim. Evacuation Center at Dolores Count Senior Center, 8600 Rd 7.2, Dove Creek for mandatory check-in. Per a wireless emergency alert from the Dolores County Sheriff’s Office on PBS Warn.
Additionally, Zone 15 in San Miguel County is now in Ready status, per San Miguel County Sheriff on Facebook. Residents are to prepare for a possible evacuation due to recent fire behavior associated with the Ferris Fire, which is currently burning in Dolores and Montezuma Counties. The affected area is Zone 15, which includes all areas east of Highway 141 from the top of Slick Rock Hill to the San Miguel–Dolores County line. There is currently no fire burning in Zone 15 or anywhere in San Miguel County.
Reference the Watch Duty map and the Ferris Fire Evacuation Map for zone parameters.
Depending on weather conditions later today, fire officials may initiate a strategic fire as part of firefighting operations, per San Miguel County Sheriff. If this occurs, residents may see flames or smoke within Zone 15. This is an intentional firefighting tactic and does not necessarily mean the Ferris Fire has grown or moved closer. A strategic fire is a carefully planned fire intentionally set by firefighters to burn vegetation such as trees, brush, and grass ahead of an advancing wildfire. By removing this fuel under controlled conditions, firefighters can reduce the wildfire’s intensity, slow its spread, or stop it altogether.