Crews have been pulled off the fire, and it is on a periodic patrol status, said Patrick Seekins, Dolores District fire management officer.
“We have not seen any smoke on it in days,” he said. “It got some heavy rain, but we will continue to monitor it.”
The fire was started by lightning on Aug. 26, and stopped growing at 115 acres. Some smoke is still visible deep in the Dolores River canyon.
The Draw FireThe Draw Fire 8 miles northeast of Dolores stayed within the predetermined containment lines and as planned, San Juan National Forest spokeswoman Ann Bond said Wednesday night. The total acreage came to 1,438 acres.
Burnout operations were effective on Monday, which generated a good plume of smoke that drifted east, southeast.
“There are no problems and in the next couple of days the public will notice less, if any, smoke,” he said. “There’s just a little bit left to burn within the containment area.”
Fifteen firefighters with two firetrucks are working to control the Draw Fire within a 1,400-acre containment area bordered by Forest Roads 528 and 527 on the east and south, and Forest Road 527 on the north and west side.
There are no road or trail closures at this time. However, some sections of the Boggy Draw trail system might be temporarily closed if the fire comes too close. Roadside signs will be posted to alert the public to fire operations, risks and closures. The public is asked to avoid the area.
Smoke is expected to be visible from the Dolores Norwood Road (Forest Road 526). Smoke might also settle at night in Dolores and the surrounding area.
With the Forest Service at a Planning Level 5 nationally, firefighting resources are focused on fighting several fires in the West; therefore, a very conservative approach is being taken with the Draw Fire, Ann Bond, a Forest Service public information officer, said in a news release.
The fire was reported on Sept. 5 by a McPhee Campground host and likely was caused by lightning a few days before, the Forest Service said. By Sept. 6, it had burned 12 acres. It grew to 55 acres on Sept. 7, then to 120 acres by Sept. 8.
For more information, call the Dolores Ranger District at 882-7296.
