FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

BIA Fire Management – 970.563.4571

PIO Summer Begay – 970.563.2313

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 23, 2025

Mesa Fire Contained

Southern Ute Indian Reservation – Yesterday afternoon at approximately 1:40 PM, the Southern Ute Agency received a smoke report in the Jefferson Canyon area near Archuleta Mesa, located on Tribal land.

Following an initial assessment, the fire was sized at approximately 0.2 acres. Ground crews responded promptly, including one Type 2 Wildland Fire Module and one Type 3 Engine, successfully gaining access to the site. Aerial resources, including two Large Air Tankers (LATs) and one Type 1 helicopter sourcing water from Navajo Reservoir, supported suppression efforts.

Thanks to the swift and coordinated response, the fire is now fully contained. Crews remain on scene conducting mop-up operations to extinguish remaining hotspots and ensure the area is secure. The Southern Ute Agency continues to monitor conditions to prevent any further impact to the surrounding environment.

Smoke will be minimal in the region. For information on air quality, please visit: https://www.southernute-nsn.gov/justice-and-regulatory/epd/air-quality/ambient-monitoring/

To report fires, please contact:

Durango Zone Dispatch: (970) 385-1324

Southern Ute Police Dispatch: (970) 563-4401