DENVER -- Firefighters continue to battle several wildland fires burning more than 200,000 acres on National Forest System Lands, with the majority of them burning in the Rocky Mountain area.
The largest of them all, the Spring Fire burning approximately 5 miles east of Fort Garland in southern Colorado, has burned 106,985 acres of land as of Saturday morning and is 43 percent contained.
The map below shows the large fires currently burning in the state, along with details on acreage, containment and other important information:
Note: This map and the data contained within are maintained by The Colorado State Emergency Operations Center and some information may be delayed. Check with your local fire district for the most updated information.
Here's the latest information on the fires burning across the state for Saturday, July 7 2018:
416 Fire
Size: 54,129 acres
Containment: 50 percent
Location: 13 miles north of Durango
The 416 Fire started at about 10 a.m. on June 1, 2018, approximately 10 miles north of Durango. The fire is burning on the west side of State Highway 550 on some private land and on the San Juan National Forest. Here's the latest information for Saturday:
7:52 a.m.: Pre-evacuation notices remain in place for 317 homes in Tripp Creek, Dyke Canyon, Hermosa
Circle and Falls Creek Ranch areas. An emergency information line has been activated, and residents can obtain the latest information by calling (970) 385-8700.
La Plata County officials will hold a public meeting to discuss the probably impacts of heavy rain. The meeting will be held at Miller Middle School, 2608 Junction Street in Durango at 7 p.m.
Burro Fire
Size: 4,593 acres
Containment: 40 percent
Location: Approximately 14 miles south of Rico
The Burro Fire was detected on June 8, 2018 at 3:45 p.m. near the Gold Run Trail on the Dolores Ranger District of the San Juan National Forest. Here's the latest information for Saturday:
9 a.m: Fire restrictions remain in effect on the San Juan National Forest and in Montezuma and Dolores counties. Residents and visitors should continue to avoid open burning, fireworks, or other activities that could create sparks or flame.
Closures are still in effect in the Burro and 416 fire areas. Please respect closure barriers on roads and trails. The Colorado Trail is still closed from Molas Pass south to Junction Creek, and the Hermosa Creek Wilderness is closed.
Divide Fire
Size: 13,544 acres
Containment: 30 percent
Location: Approximately 32 miles northwest of Craig
At about 1:50 p.m. on Friday, June 29, deputies with the Moffat County Sheriff's Office responded to reports of a fire burning near the Town of Great Divide. About 75 firefighters are working with four single-engine air-tankers and a helicopter to limit the spread of the fire. Several structures are threatened. Two structures have been lost since the fire started. Here's the latest information for Saturday:
9:50 a.m.: Winds and very dry conditions are pushing the fire farther west. The fire grew about 1,614 acres in size from Friday.
High Chateau Fire
Size: 1,423 acres
Containment: 95 percent
Location: Central Teller County
Here's the latest information for Saturday on the High Chateau Fire:
5:30 a.m.: Teller County officials say the High Chateau Fire is 95 percent contained.
Lake Christine Fire
Size: 5,434 acres
Containment: 3 percent
Location: Near Basalt
The Lake Christine Fire is burning approximately one mile northwest of Basalt, Colorado. The fire grew significantly on the Fourth of July, driven by strong outflow winds, extremely dry fuels, and single digit relative humidity. So far, three homes have been destroyed by the blaze. The latest information for Saturday:
9:50 a.m.: Road closures and mandatory evacuation orders have been lifted for residents in the area north of Highway 82 and west of El Jebel Road/Upper Cattle Creek road to the Garfield County line. Upper Cattle Creek Road will remain closed, as will any roads only accessible by Upper Cattle Creek Road. This will allow approximately 150 evacuated families to return to their homes. All other evacuation orders are still in place.
Spring Fire
Size: 106,985 acres
Containment: 43 percent
Location: 5 miles east of Fort Garland
Cause: Human-caused, under investigation
The Spring Fire east of Fort Garland in Costilla and Huerfano counties has forced the evacuation of more than 2,000 homes since last Wednesday. Officials said 132 homes have been destroyed so far. More than 1,000 personnel are currently working on the blaze. The latest information for Saturday:
4:13 p.m.: Highway 160 over La Veta Pass reopens for a second time Saturday after an increase in fire activity forced its closure just 30 minutes after opening for the first time in days, San Luis Valley Emergency officials say.
US Hwy 160 reopened. We will update as conditions change. Monitor https://t.co/MC9ixFR1fe for current conditions. Use caution along Hwy 160 as flames and smoke may be visible. Conditions may change again. Thank you for your patience. #SpringFire
— SLVEmergency (@SLVEmergency) July 7, 2018
2:36 p.m.: San Luis Valley Emergency officials say Highway 160 is closed due to fire activity in the area. The highway was open for less than an hour.
As of 2:30 pm, US Highway 160 has been closed again until further notice. An increase in fire activity north of the highway moving south is threatening the road. The highway will be closed from Fort Garland to La Veta. #springfire @SpringFire2018
— SLVEmergency (@SLVEmergency) July 7, 2018
9 a.m.: Fire officials say progress has been made against the Spring Fire, with crews now working to complete containment, mop-up and repair of areas affected by fire suppression actions.
Highway 160 remains closed until 2 p.m. when it will reopen in both directions. There is no stopping, parking, or standing outside of vehicles along the highway or shoulder from La Veta to Ft. Garland. Officials ask that you check www.cotrip.org for the most recent updates. Highway 12 is closed from mile marker 7 to mile marker 22.5. Highway 69 is closed from mile marker 5 to mile marker 42 (open to local traffic only).
For current evacuee information in Huerfano County, visit www.facebook.com/HuerfanoCountyOEM or call 211 for in-state phone numbers or (719) 583-6611 for out-of-state phone numbers. For Costilla County, visit the San Luis Valley Emergency page: www.slvemergency.org or call (719) 480-8719 between the hours of 10 a.m and 3 p.m. For Las Animas County, visit the Las Animas County OEM Facebook page or call (719) 846-2993 ext. 0.
Sugarloaf Fire
Size: 1,270 acres
Containment: 20 percent
Location: About 13 miles southwest of Fraser
Cause: Lightning/natural
The Sugarloaf Fire started on Thursday, June 28, from a lightning strike near the South Fork of Darling Creek, just south of Byers Peak Wilderness. The latest information for Saturday:
8:50 a.m.: Firefighters will work Saturday to make sure the fire does not cross Darling Creek and adjacent side drainage.
Thornburg Fire
Size: 1,636 acres
Containment: No estimate
Location: 5 miles west of Maybell
Colroado's latest wildfire was reported on Friday, July 6 at around 7:30 p.m. about five miles west of Maybell in Moffat County (northwest Colorado). The latest information for Saturday:
12:56 p.m.: Fire officials say the cause of the fire is unknown at this time, but added lightning moved through the area shortly before the fire was reported.
8:03 a.m.: About 30 structures continue to be threatened by the Thornburg Fire Saturday, but none are believed to be lost or damaged. The fire is burning on a mix of private and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land.
Weston Pass Fire
Size: 13,091
Containment: 32 percent
Location: 9 miles southwest of Fairplay
Cause: Lightning/natural
Firefighters continue to secure a line along the fire edge and along the contingency line north from Rough and Tumble Creek, and then west to County Road 22. The latest information for Saturday:
9:55 a.m.: U.S. Highway 285 is back open to all traffic as of 8 a.m. Saturday. Officials will conduct a briefing of fire activities and other relevant information at 2 p.m. outside the Prather's Grocery Store, located on 301 U.S. Highway 285 in Fairplay. A 3 p.m. briefing will be held outside the Buena Vista Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center, located at 343 U.S. 24 in Buena Vista.
