Gratefully, while the Ferris Fire burns 20,560 acres to the southeast and the McCloud Fire and Horse Head Fire burn 113 and 530 acres, respectively, to the southwest (and that smoke is joined from the Snyder Mesa Fire (30,163 acres) to our north/northwest, drifting southish), Spring Creek Basin and lower Disappointment Valley were mostly smoke-free yesterday.
In the pic above, Tenaz and Skywalker, grazing with their band almost at the western boundary of the basin, are highlighted by that drifting smoke to the west. It’s fairly far away, but I haven’t seen Utah’s La Sal Mountains for at least a few days now as the smoke obscures any sight of them.
Now looking east/southeast, that’s the smoke from the Ferris Fire (the Doe Canyon, Far Draw and Ferris fires all have merged and are now being collectively called the Ferris Fire). But see how clear it is between here and there? Not great for folks and critters in that direction … but (again, gratefully), a huge relief for my beloved center-of-the-world Spring Creek Basin.
Huge thanks to sheriff’s deputies from both Dolores and San Miguel counties (Disappointment Valley spans both counties, and Disappointment Road runs from Colorado Highway 141 at the lower north end to the Dolores-Norwood Road at the upper southeast end) who have been diligent in keeping an eye on the fire’s approach: Branson, Todd, Derek, Jeremy and Nick. Also to my BLM folks, especially Ryan and Laura, for keeping an eye on the situation and updating me with information. Anton was on one of the fire crews pulled back Saturday for safety on the Doe Canyon Fire, and he might still be on a fire crew on the merged fire.
To all the firefighters out there, heartfelt thanks and prayers for your hard work and continued safety. The firefighters killed while fighting the Snyder Mesa Fire have been identified. There are really no words to describe the heartbreaking loss of those young lives.
Spring Creek Basin Mustangs 
We are so thankful you are all right and sad for the loss of the three firefighters💗
I saw a short video of part of the procession through Fruita for those fallen firefighters. … Apparently, it lasted 75 minutes and thousands turned out to pay their respects.
Because of the direction of the winds, we too were spared suffocating smoke yesterday. The Ferris fire is burning down everything we know and love on the Glade. The Bradfield was evacuated a day ago. This one giant three fire amalgamation is just mindboggling. It is bringing much, much sorrow, but thankfully – so far – no loss of life. And as you said, TJ, prayers for all of the firefighters; we are so grateful for their brutal work and courage.
Wind conditions aren’t great again today, but the wind here is blowing from west to east, so that’s a relief at this end, at least. Fire updates are that planes and helicopters have been able to make slurry/water drops to support ground crews and will do the same today until conditions are bad enough to ground them. Hugely thankful, indeed, for all those men and women on the lines – as you said, “for their brutal work and courage.”