CUSTER COUNTY, Colo. – The Junkins Fire, which has burned more than 18,000 acres in southern Colorado over the past week, is 50 percent contained as of Monday, officials said.
Nine homes and 17 other structures have been destroyed by the fire, which started in the early-morning hours of Oct. 17 east of Westcliffe.
Residents along Custer Country Road 358 and Highway 165 were both allowed back to their homes Monday afternoon, though County roads 386 and 287 remained closed.
A total of 911 people are working the fire, and crews have been using helicopter support, engines and hand crews to continue working toward further containment of the fire.
A public meeting on the fire is scheduled for Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Westmore Volunteer Fire Department.
The fire is suspected to have been caused by a downed power line that fell after high winds blew a building into the line.
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