South Fork Fire Grows To 6,000 Acres
Fire Has Good Potential For Expansion
POSTED: 12:32 p.m. MDT June 20, 2002
The Million Fire, one mile south of South Fork, Colo, mushroomed to 6,000 acres Thursday and was expected to increase dramatically before firefighters could gain the upper hand.
The fire was torching and crowning, with erratic fire behavior, according to fire officials. It was burning in mixed conifer, spruce and beattle-killed trees.
As many as 3,000 people have been evacuated in a 15-mile radius from the fire. An evacuation center was opened at Del Norte High School.
Fire officials are using two helicopters and two handcrews on the fire.
"The growth potential for this fire is extreme, as is the terrain the fire is burning in," according to a fire status report filed just before noon Thursday.
The fire was torching and crowning, with erratic fire behavior, according to fire officials. It was burning in mixed conifer, spruce and beattle-killed trees.
As many as 3,000 people have been evacuated in a 15-mile radius from the fire. An evacuation center was opened at Del Norte High School.
Fire officials are using two helicopters and two handcrews on the fire.
"The growth potential for this fire is extreme, as is the terrain the fire is burning in," according to a fire status report filed just before noon Thursday.
Previous Story:
- June 19, 2002: New Forest Fire Breaks Out Near South Fork
Copyright 2002 by TheDenverChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
