Durango Interagency Dispatch Area

DRC Lower

Saturday, September 19

Last updated: 9/19/2026 2:53:48

Where Is This Area?

The DRC Lower Fire Danger Rating Area , spanning parts of San Miguel, Montrose, Montezuma, La Plata, Dolores counties.

Communities in this area include: Durango, Cortez, Bayfield, Mancos, Towaoc, Dolores. Rating areas are grouped by fire environment — elevation, fuels, and climate — not by town, so your community may sit in an area named for a different place.

Pocket Card

Today's Conditions

0 of 7 local thresholds met today

40% ERC % threshold > 90%

55% BI % threshold > 90%

11 Winds threshold > 11

NNE Direction

0.00 24hr Rain

70 Max Temp threshold > 89

36 Min Rh % threshold < 9

18 1000hr Fuels threshold < 9

64 Max Rh threshold < 30

Weather & Air Quality

Local Thresholds

ERC > 90%, BI > 90%, Wind Speed > 11 Max Temp > 89, Min Rh < 9, 1000hr Fuels < 9, Max RH < 30 If three or more of the seven thresholds are met, consider it a watchout.

Lower FDRA Extended Forecast

Fuel Model - X

Indicator	19-Sep	20-Sep	21-Sep	22-Sep	23-Sep	24-Sep	25-Sep
Adjective Fire Danger Danger	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate	Low	Low	Low
ERC-Y Percentile ERC %	40%	49%	52%	38%	26%	31%	19%
BI-Y Percentile BI %	55%	62%	47%	47%	28%	29%	21%
Temperature Temp	70	70	70	65	63	64	63
Relative Humidity Min RH	36	25	24	39	48	49	52
Winds Wind	11	10	9	10	9	8	8
Wind Direction Wind Dir	NNE	N	NE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE
Precipitation 24hr rain Rain	0.05	0.00	0.00	0.23	0.22	0.11	0.66
1000hr Fuels 1000-hr Fuels	18	18	18	18	17	17	16
Max Rh Max RH	84	59	44	64	68	65	69
ERC-X (Actual Number 1-106) ERC	54	62	63	50	32	40	20
BI-X (Actual Number 1-285) BI	119	128	111	109	70	76	48

Local Fire Information

fire.ai ↗ Live AI-powered wildfire intelligence, including this area's daily fire danger. Watch Duty ↗ Live wildfire tracking and real-time incident updates. Fire Restrictions ↗ Current restrictions — this area spans San Miguel, Montrose, Montezuma, La Plata and nearby counties. Check before you burn. NWS Forecast Here ↗ National Weather Service point forecast for this rating area. NWS Fire Weather ↗ Red flag warnings and fire weather for Western Colorado. AirNow Fire & Smoke ↗ Smoke plumes and air quality, centered on this area. Protect Your Property ↗ Wildfire mitigation guidance from the Colorado State Forest Service. InciWeb ↗ Official interagency information on active large incidents.

The Lower Fire Danger Rating Area uses the following Remote Automated Weather Stations (RAWS) which are equally weighted in value, using Fuel Model Z (Slash) incorporating data years 2005-2024 are: Nucla (55807), Chapin (55704), Mockingbird (55710), Mesa Mtn (55805).

If you are interested in having this data emailed to you daily as a PDF, please email: 38north.llc@gmail.com