Rio Blanco Fire 2026

The Rio Blanco Fire was declared 100% contained at 5 PM on Tuesday, August 18, 2026. This Inciweb Page will no longer be updated.

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CLOSURES LIFTED: The San Juan National Forest and Bureau of Land Management lifted the Rio Blanco Fire road closure, effective August 25th, 2026.

Travelers are being asked to avoid driving on NFS 653.B as it was damaged as a result of heavy fire traffic and will require additional repair when soil moisture content is higher. The likelihood of getting stuck or damaging a vehicle is very high.

Any public entering the fire area should exercise extreme caution. Hazards include fire-weakened trees, hot spots and ashpits, loose rocks, flash flooding, and debris flows.

Avoid the area during high wind and rainstorms.

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The Rio Blanco Fire, which burned 1,388 acres south of Pagosa Springs, Colorado, was declared 100% contained at 5 PM on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.  On Tuesday, August 25, 2026, officials with the San Juan National Forest announced that all road closures related to the incident have been lifted.

The fire started on July 28, 2026, due to a lightning strike. While the fire is fully contained, forest officials caution that hazards remain within the burned area.