Wildfires Rage In Ordway, Carbondale, Fort Carson

DENVER -- Three major wildfires burning in the state have killed several people, destroyed a handful of homes and forced thousands of residents to evacuate.

The wildfires, fueled by gusty winds and warm temperatures, were still raging out of control Tuesday night.

The fire in Ordway has burned more than a dozen structures, including several homes. "There are unconfirmed reports of up to ten houses destroyed," said Jennifer Mariano with the Red Cross. "But we will have to wait for daylight to really assess the damage."

Firefighters are fighting "crazy winds" to try to control this fire, 7News Traffic Reporter Jayson Luber said, flying in AirTracker 7.

At least two people died in this fire, Crowley County sheriff's deputy Bill Hamilton said, although he could not immediately provide details.

The fire is estimated at 6,500 acres and a state of emergency declaration has been declared as all residents in a 5-mile radius are forced to evacuate.

The fire commissioner is asking everyone in the town of 1,500 people to take Highway 96 East to Sugar City and take refuge in the Rocky Ford Expo Building on the Rocky Ford Fairgrounds. Red Cross officials are coordinating relief and shelter efforts.

Mariano said there is "a lot of darkness. There is no power in the town of Ordway or Sugar city so right now all is dark, but there are still fires burning."

The Crowley County jail is being evacuated by the Department of Corrections and the prisoners are being taken to Bent County. A DOC official said neither of the Ordway prisons are threatened by the fire and will not be evacuated.

Ordway is located in Crowley County, about 46 miles east of Pueblo and 76 miles southeast of Colorado Springs.

Carbondale Fire Prompts Evacuations

A 300-acre fire burning in Carbondale has prompted the evacuation of everyone within a 3-mile radius and the closure a 5-mile stretch of Colorado 82 in western Colorado. By late Tuesday a portion of the highway had reopened and a few residents were allowed to return to their homes.

The fire is burning just east of Carbondale in the Roaring Fork River area near the town of El Jebel.

Wind whipped flames threatened several homes and a private school earlier in the day, according to Tanny McGinnis, spokeswoman for the Garfield County Sheriff's Office.

She said a horse farm and the Waldorf School were evacuated. Parents were told students were safe with staff members. Four buildings have been damaged and one person was transported with non-life-threatening injuries, she said.

"Nothing like this has ever happened," Rebecca Roeber told 7NEWS Reporter Lane Lyon. Roeber's family was evacuated Tuesday afternoon. "I'm nervous, but I'm sure we'll be alright," Roeber said.

The fire is 25 percent contained, and continues to move east to west along Highway 82 through Carbondale. It is fueled by 50 mph winds, McGinnis said.

At about 4 p.m., reverse 911 calls were placed to all to homes and businesses within a 3-mile radius of the Catherine Store in Carbondale, telling them of a mandatory evacuation.

"I fully intend to keep the fire out of Missouri Heights. Our main objective is life safety and then to protect structures," Incident Commander Fire Chief Ron Leach said.

Authorities said people still under the mandatory evacuation order may be allowed to return home around noon Wednesday.

The fire is threatening several homes at the Ranch at Roaring Fork subdivision, according to the Glenwood Springs Post Independent. The newspaper is reporting that the fire has jumped the Roaring Fork River and jumped the highway.

Evacuation centers have been set up at Roaring Forks High School in Carbondale and the El Jebel Community Center in El Jebel. Small animals can be evacuated to either the Glenwood Vet Clinic or the Care Shelter on County Road Hwy 114. (Call 970-947-9173 for more information.)

Large animals may be taken to the Garfield County Fairgrounds in Rifle or the Glenwood Fairgrounds by the airport.

Firefighters from Carbondale, Basalt and Glenwood are at the scene.

The cause of the fire, which was sparked 1.2 miles east of Carbondale at about noon, is under investigation.

Highway 82 was closed between El Jebel and Carbondale (Highway 133) at 4 p.m. but authorities reopened one lane of traffic in each direction at 7 p.m.

McGinnis said there were three other fires burning in Garfield County. Two were controlled burns that got out of control, she said.

One fire, reported at 2 p.m., is located at 985 County Road 245 in the Silt-New Castle area. The other is located at 46 Highway 325 in Rifle.

Additional information about the Carbondale Fire can be found at Eagle County's Web site.

Voluntary Evacuations In Fort Carson Fire

A 1,000-acre wildfire burning on Fort Carson near Highway 115 also caused the evacuation of people and animals from Turkey Creek Ranch and the closure of Highway 115 from Gate 6 south.

A crop duster-type plane involved in fighting the Fort Carson fire crashed, killing the pilot. Visibility was low because of the heavy smoke, although the exact cause of the crash is unclear.

Fire and emergency personnel from Fort Carson, El Paso County, Colorado Springs Fire Department and Highway 115 Voluntary Fire Department are at the scene fighting the blaze. Structures are being protected in and around Turkey Creek Ranch.

Residents from Barrett Road south are receiving emergency notification for voluntary evacuation. Those with respiratory conditions are encouraged to evacuate.

Fort Carson's Gates 1 and 5 are currently closed, so traffic attempting to leave the army post will be rerouted.

Colorado saw a wetter than normal winter that was followed by a dry March. A storm moving into the state was expected to bring rain and snow on Wednesday, which would help with the wildfires.

Please watch 7NEWS for more information.