A number of small communities that included Deckers and Westcreek were ordered evacuated Wednesday as a quickly-growing wildfire blew up southwest of Denver.

The fire had burned an estmated 5,000 acres by 10 p.m. , growing from just 400 acres Wednesday morning.

At least one residence was confirmed to have been lost in the fire Wednesday.

All areas west of highway 67 from Deckers south to the Teller County line were ordered evacuated as the fire crossed the highway.

The Douglas County Sheriff issued mandatory evacuation notices for the area from Sugar Creek on the north to the Teller county line on the south. The west side of the evacuation area was at the Douglas/Jeffco Line east to Rampart Range Road.

The area covers Deckers, Horsecreek, Camp Shady Brook & YMCA camp, Rainbow Falls Road, Rainbow Falls Park, Ferguson Road, Trout Creek Ranch, Long Hollow Road, Fern Creek, Pine Lake Estates, West Creek Subdivision, Cedar Mountain, and Stump Road. Also included: Trout Creek Road, Pine Lake Estates, the Sugar Creek area, Platte River Crossing area and Devil's Head.

Highway 67 remained open while people evacuated, the sheriff's office said, but evacuees will not be allowed to return to the area until the threat has passed.

Deckers had served as a fire command post and media-briefing location prior to the evacuation. Video from Airtracker7 over the fire Wednesday afternoon showed the fire crossing Highway 67 south of Deckers. That report was confirmed by the Douglas County Sheriff, which said it crossed in three places.

The smoke plume from the fire reached 20,000 feet, according to Airtracker 7 pilot Rich Westra.

There are two evacuation centers: the first is at Woodland Park Community Church gymnasium, 800 Valley View off of highway 67 in Woodland Park. The second is at Elk Creek Elementary, 13304 S. Highway 285 along the frontage road.

The Schoonover Fire was estimated at more than 500 acres by noon and grew rapidly by Wednesday evening to 3,000, then 4,000, 5,000 acres.

Teams of local firefighters assembled to assist with protection of structures in affected areas. Secondarily, officials were monitoring a lesser threat to 40 to 50 structures in the West Creek subdivision, Rainbow Falls subdivision, Green Mountain Ranch, Myers Ranch, and Horse Creek Saloon.

The fire is now believed to have started on Monday and spread to three separate fires in a remote area 3 miles southwest of Deckers. The fire was moving in a northeast direction, on land primarily owned by the Denver Water Board.

At least 14 federal, state and local agencies are working together to battle the blaze, aided by air tankers and helicopters. Steep rugged terrain, inaccessibility, and low moisture are hampering containment efforts. A type-one federal management team arrived late Wednesday to take control of the firefighting efforts.

The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for Wednesday, meaning that conditions were good for the spread of fires in the state.

A red flag warning is issued when fuels are at 8 percent moisture or less, the afternoon relative humidity is expected to fall to 25 percent or lower, and sustained winds are 15 mph for at least two hours.

Current road closures include:

• Hwy. 67 at West Creek is closed to north bound traffic
• Hwy. 67 at Sugar Creek Rd. is closed to south bound traffic
• Hwy. 67 is still open to local traffic for those leaving the areas
• The State Forest Service has closed all recreational areas
• Rampart Range Road is closed from Hwy. 67 to Rainbow Falls Rd.
• Small fires have crossed Hwy. 67 in the area about 1 ? miles south of Deckers

Lightning is the likely cause of the fire, officials told 7NEWS.

Previous Story:

• May 21, 2002: Fire Forces Evacuations Near Deckers