Stoner Mesa Fire Update
Wednesday, September 3, 2025

Email: 2025.stonermesa@firenet.gov | Phone: 970.341.8668
Acres: 10,249 | Containment: 47% | Reported: 07/28/25 | Cause: Lightning | Personnel: 223

Note: Bow hunting season has started. Hunters be aware that portions of Game Unit 71 are closed due to fire,
including Stoner and Taylor Mesas. Please watch for fire vehicles on Highway 145 and West Dolores Road (CR 38).
Follow the San Juan National Forest Alerts and Notices page https://tinyurl.com/SanJuanNFAlerts, as well as the
fire’s Facebook Page, for the latest information on closures.

Highlights:
While there is only minimal fire activity overall, firefighters continue to look for signs of heat near the fire’s edge
and extinguish hot spots where it safe and effective to do so. Crews are also implementing measures to minimize
erosion and repair fireline no longer needed. Structure protection equipment will be removed from homes and
other structures along County 38 south of Fish Creek.

Fire Behavior & Weather: Wednesday will be dry and warm, with light winds out of the northwest. There is a slight
chance of rain showers and thunderstorms late in the day. The forecast calls for potential significant rainfall later in
the week, which should further-reduce fire activity.

Operations: Yesterday, firefighters with the Elk Creek Wildfire Module extinguished hot spots near the fire’s edge
on the west side of Taylor Mesa, with water support provided by an all-terrain apparatus called a Soft Track that
holds 1400 gallons of water. A type 2 crew used hand tools to cut water bars into a steep section of handline near
Stoner to help minimize potential erosion from expected rainfall later this week. Suppression repair work is
underway in locations across the fire area, while masticators and wood chippers are being used to help crews
reduce and eliminate brush and slash. Today, Structure Protection crews will begin removing pumps, tanks and
hoses from properties south of Fish Creek along County Road 38.

The incident management team provided a Type 1 helicopter and a helitack crew to help the San Juan National
Forest with initial attack on the Little Elk Fire yesterday afternoon. The fire is located in remote terrain about seven
miles southwest of Purgatory resort.

Reminder: If you fly, we can’t. There is a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) in place over the fire area. Private
aircraft, including drones, are not allowed. Private drone incursions in the fire area will ground firefighting
aircraft. Use this link to see the TFR: https://tinyurl.com/TemporaryFlightRestriction

For official fire information follow the https://facebook.com/StonerMesaFire/or
Inciweb: https://tinyurl.com/InciwebStonerMesa