Archuleta County, CO Sheriff's Office

06/17/2026

After a quick foot pursuit.....ACSO deputies have captured a tortoise. He was located in Aspen Springs Unit 2. If anyone has any information on who he belongs to, or where he lives, please reach out to Dispatch before Sheriff Le Roux makes him our office mascot! Dispacth - (970)-731-2160. 🐢

06/16/2026

06/16/2026

***UPDATE as @ 13:12***

Resources are on scene. Containment lines are being established. Forward growth of fire has been halted at approximately 1/2 acre.

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Good afternoon Archuleta County.

USDA Forest Service - San Juan National Forest Pagosa Fire Protection District and Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office are currently responding to a possible fire on 8-mile Mesa. Updates will be provided as soon as units arrive on-scene.

Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch is aware of the smoke.

06/16/2026

UPDATE!

🛑🛑🛑 Update: As of 11:00pm 6/16/2026 Zyron Castillo Jr. Has been located and taken into Custody.

🛑🛑🛑 Update: As of 1:23 pm 6/16/2026 Chauncey Cachucha has been located and is in Custody

BOLO Archuleta County! See the information below from our neighbors to the south. Thank you!

06/15/2026

The ACSO and PFPD are on scene of a single tree lightning strike between County Road 400 and County Road 411. A full containment line has been established around the fire, which is approximately a quarter of an acre, and crews are working to put water on it. No evacuations are necessary at this time! 🚒🔥🌲🚔
Pagosa Fire Protection District

06/05/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: June 5, 2026

ARCHULETA COUNTY ENTERS STAGE 1 FIRE RESTRICTIONS EFFECTIVE JUNE 6, 2026

PAGOSA SPRINGS, CO — Due to persistent drought conditions, drying vegetation, and rapidly increasing fire danger indices across southwest Colorado, Sheriff Mike Le Roux has announced that Archuleta County will officially enter Stage 1 Fire Restrictions.

The restrictions will take effect at 12:01 AM on Saturday, June 6, 2026, and will remain in place for all unincorporated public and private lands within Archuleta County until further notice. This decision aligns local safety measures with neighboring jurisdictions.

"Public safety is our top priority," said Sheriff Le Roux. "With summer heat settling in and minimal moisture in the forecast, the risk of a catastrophic wildfire is simply too high. We need every resident and visitor to take these restrictions seriously and do their part to protect our community."

PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES UNDER STAGE 1:

• Open Burning & Campfires: Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire is strictly prohibited. This includes charcoal briquette grills and coal- or wood-burning stoves on all public and private lands, outside of developed areas.
• Smoking: Smoking outdoors is prohibited unless you are within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or stopped in an outdoor area at least three feet in diameter that is completely barren and cleared of all flammable materials.
• Fireworks and Explosives: The use of all fireworks, rockets, exploding targets, tracer ammunition, or incendiary rounds is strictly prohibited.
• Open Flame Torch Work: Welding or operating an acetylene or other torch with an open flame is prohibited, except within a cleared area of at least 10 feet in diameter and with a pressurized fire extinguisher immediately available.

ALLOWED ACTIVITIES:

• Developed Recreation Sites: Campfires are allowed only within permanently constructed, agency-provided metal fire grates or rings located inside developed campgrounds and picnic areas. (Note: Rock campfire rings and personal fire pans are not permitted).
• Gas/Liquid Stoves: The use of portable stoves, lanterns, or patio heating devices fueled by liquid petroleum, pressurized liquid fuel, or gas is permitted, provided they can be turned off via a valve.
• Residential Charcoal Grills: Charcoal grill fires remain allowed within developed residential properties, though extreme caution is urged.

Equipment Requirements for Chainsaws:
Operating a chainsaw or any internal combustion engine is permitted only if it is equipped with a properly maintained, USDA- or SAE-approved spark arrestor. Operators must also have a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher and a round-point shovel (minimum length of 35 inches) readily available.

Penalties & Enforcement:
Violations of these county-enacted fire restrictions are enforceable by law enforcement.

The Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office urges everyone to download the WatchDuty App and sign up for Nixle Emergency Alerts to stay informed on local fire updates and active incidents.
For more information, please visit the Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office website at https://sheriff.archuletacounty.gov/divisions/emergency-operations/fire-updates-and-information/, and the Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office page.

To report a suspected fire restriction violation or an active smoke plume, please call regional dispatch immediately at 911 or the non-emergency line at (970) 264-8430.

Pagosa Fire Protection District
Los Pinos Fire District
USDA Forest Service - San Juan National Forest

06/04/2026

Good Morning Archuleta County! The ACSO has job openings for 911 dispatchers. If you are interested in learning more about our office and dispatch center, please reach out! 🖤💛🖤 🖤💛🖤

Click the link below to apply!
https://archuletacounty.applicantpro.com/jobs/3712634

05/28/2026

At the beginning of the school year, Sheriff Le Roux visited Mr. Galabota's 3rd grade class and they developed SMART goals to achieve for the year. The Sheriff stopped by this week and was given a full report on achieved goals. He listened as the students reported new goals that they are going to achieve over the summer and before they start 4th Grade. The new goals included getting better at math, scoring goals in soccer, riding bulls, and working on pushups. Great job students! Keep up the good work! 😎

05/19/2026

Good morning Archuleta County,

The temporary burn ban that was implemented on Monday morning, May 18th, has been lifted.

Burning operations may continue in line with Archuleta County Ordinance 18-2017, to include Pagosa Fire Protection District, and Los Pinos Fire District permit conditions.

As always, we will continue to monitor conditions and may impose temporary bans during periods of adverse weather conditions.

Please burn safely and responsibly.

05/18/2026

Monday, May 18th, 2026, @ 08:30 - Archuleta County:

There will be a temporary burn ban in effect for all open permitted burns within Archuleta County, effective immediately.

Due to the current conditions, particularly with the current wind event, we are shutting down the agricultural and permitted burn process for an abundance of safety.

We will continue to monitor the situation carefully, and reevaluate the process over the next few days. Our intent is to lift the temporary burn ban at the earliest possible convenience.