DENVER – The 4th of July means a day off for many people, but not so for firefighters who are working to contain multiple large wildfires burning across Colorado.
The largest fire in the state, the Spring Fire in southern Colorado, continues to grow at a fast clip. As of Wednesday morning, the fire had grown to more than 94,000 acres, up from about 79,000 Tuesday. It's currently among the largest wildfires in Colorado history.
The newest fire, the Lake Christine Fire near Basalt, has quickly grown to several thousand acres.
MAP: Here are the major wildfires currently burning in Colorado
Here’s the latest on several of the large fires currently burning:
Spring Fire
Location: 5 miles E of Ft. Garland
Size: 95,739
Containment: 5 percent
The Spring Fire east of Fort Garland has forced the evacuation of more than 2,000 homes since last Wednesday. Officials said 132 homes have been destroyed so far during a community meeting in La Veta. Nearly 1,000 personnel are currently working on the blaze.
Highway 160 remains closed due to fire activity. Highway 12 is also closed in the Cuchara Valley area due to mandatory evacuations.
For a current list of evacuations in Huerfano County please visit the Huerfano County Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/HuerfanoCountyOEM. For evacuations in Costilla County visit the San Luis Valley Emergency page at slvemergency.org for a current evacuation map.
Anyone with further questions about the Spring Fire can call a hotline set up at 719-480-8719.
Lake Christine Fire
Location: Near Basalt
Size: 2,377 acres
Containment: 0 percent
The Lake Christine Fire started on Tuesday near Basalt and has prompted officials to order evacuation orders in the following areas: Original Road, Silverado Dr, Hillcrest Drive, the Pineridge area, Cedar Drive, Pinon Drive, Promontory Lane, Wildspring Lane, Ridge Road, in the Homestead Trailer Park, Homestead Drive, Sopris Drive, Spur Lane, Tucker Lane, Hillside Drive, Curtis Lane, Longhorn Lane and all addresses on the north side of Midland Avenue. Late Wednesday officials expanded the mandatory evacuation area to residents in the Missouri Heights area and all homes to the east of Upper Cattle Creek Road.
The evacuation center has moved from Basalt High School to Roaring Fork High School in Carbondale.
Late Wednesday, the White River National Forest issued an emergency closure order for all National Forest Lands north of Basalt State Wildfire Area between the National Forest Boundary and Bowers Gulch to the west, and southwest of Red Table Mountain and Frenchman Creek to the east.
Immediate evacuations were ordered for all residents living, working, or traveling in the vicinity of El Jebel Mobile Home Park. Pitkin County officials say the area is at immediate risk from wildfire.
The closure area includes Basalt Mountain, the Cattle Creek area (including all of the single-track trails within the Cattle Creek Area), Sawmill Gulch area, the Seven Castles area including Otto Creek and Downey Creek, and all hiking, biking and motorcycle trails between Basalt Mountain and Cottonwood Pass.
The following areas are under a pre-evacuation notice: Big and Little Pinyon areas, Sagewood area and the area around the Church of Christ. For an interactive map of evacuated areas, click here.
The fire is burning west of the Basalt gun range in Eagle County. The Eagle County Sheriff's Office tweeted that there were multiple crews on scene with air support.
According to the sheriff's office, the fire was caused by people shooting tracer rounds. The suspects have been issued a summons. There have been no firefighter or civilian injuries.
High Chateau Fire
Location: NW of Cripple Creek
Size: 1,400 acres
Containment: 75 percent
Weston Pass Fire
Location: 9 miles SW of Fairplay
Size: 10,727 acres
Containment: 5 percent
Sugarloaf Fire
Location: 13 miles SW of Fraser
Size: 1,214 acres
Containment: 1 percent
This fire started June 28 from a lightning strike near the South Fork of Darling Creek, just south of Byers Peak Wilderness. It is part of the "big kill" area that devastated pine forests a couple decades ago. The dead trees still standing present dangerous conditions. The fire is not immediately threatening homes or businesses.
416 Fire
Location: 13 miles N of Durango
Size: 53,260 acres
Containment: 37 percent
Burro Fire
Location: 14 miles S of Rico
Size: 4,545 acres
Containment: 40 percent
