A wildfire that sparked in Custer County on Monday morning has blown up to 25,000 acres, fueled by winds gusting to 100 mph that have grounded any chance for air support, officials said.
The Aspen Acres fire, burning near Rye and spreading into Pueblo County, was the latest dangerous fire in a series that ignited across parched southern Colorado and the Western Slope amid extreme heat and gusty winds.
Because of the high winds, firefighters could not attack the fire from above, the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office said Monday evening, saying an “unspecified number of structures” were damaged by the fire.
“If you have livestock but no means to transport them, it is encouraged to cut your fences,” the sheriff’s office said.
Hundreds of firefighters were deployed around the state fighting several other wildfires that sparked over the weekend. The fires mark the first widespread wildfire activity of the summer in Colorado, where a stretch of hot, dry and windy weather has created dangerous burning conditions across much of the Western Slope and high country.
The entire town of Beulah was ordered to evacuate at 9:15 a.m. Monday, following an earlier evacuation order for residents near the Aspen Acres neighborhood. Two fires are burning in the area, one near the subdivision along Highway 165 and another near Lake Isabel, according to the Custer County Sheriff’s Office.
State resources were en route to help fight the Aspen Acres fire, but high winds could delay or ground their response.
“Wind speeds are extreme,” the sheriff’s office said in an update posted on its Facebook page.
Monday marked the first time Beulah residents Bob and Patti Jo Miranda were ordered to evacuate under a mandatory notice since moving to the town southwest of Pueblo a decade ago. After receiving a pre-evacuation alert, officials upgraded it to a mandatory evacuation about 15 minutes later, Bob Miranda said.
“That’s how fast the thing is moving,” said Miranda, who said visiting relatives helped them pack their cars along with their two small dogs.
Brian Blitch said he got a call from a neighbor about the fire and drove from Colorado Springs to his second home on 12 Mile Road to try to retrieve belongings. When he arrived, the road was already closed to all but emergency responders.
“He saw flames coming over the mountain as he was leaving,” Blitch said, relaying his neighbor’s account, who left the area about 9 a.m.
“I’m starting to see ash falling now which means it is just going to get worse and worse,” he said.
High winds are driving the fire, which was estimated at about 35 acres early Monday morning before ballooning to 2,400 acres by 1 p.m. The sheriff’s office said it expects the fire to continue to grow throughout the day.
The National Weather Service has issued red flag warnings Monday for several southwestern Colorado counties, including Custer County, as critical fire weather conditions heightened the risk of rapid wildfire growth.
“Critical fire weather conditions forecast each day this week could spur the wildfires’ growth across the state’s Western Slope and mountains,” forecasters at the National Weather Service office in Grand Junction said.
While winds are expected to be less severe than the weekend, gusts between 25 and 35 mph are forecast Monday, and up to 45 mph gusts Tuesday. Smoke from nearby and distant wildfires will reduce visibility in many parts of the state, the weather service warned.
“Exercise extreme caution and take all precautions due to these very dry conditions. Rapid spread of fire is possible,” forecasters said.
As of Monday, multiple fires burning on the Western Slope and in southern Colorado had scorched nearly 80,000 acres.
The largest fires burning Monday include:
Snyder fire
Three federal firefighters were killed while battling the Snyder fire burning on the Colorado-Utah border. Federal officials estimated the fire at 30,163 acres by Monday evening.
The fire, which started in eastern Utah, crossed the border and merged with the Knowes and Gore fires in Mesa County to form the Snyder fire. Flames raced across drought-parched land west of Fruita and Grand Junction in the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area.
“Today, the weather is much more favorable for firefighters, there’s going to be less wind so we’re looking to make good progress” Nick Ostrom, operation sections chief with the Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team I, said in a video update Monday.
Crews were working to secure the south side of the fire and as more resources arrive, firefighters will be assigned to the head of the fire to the east and on its western side, Ostrom said.
Gov. Jared Polis on Saturday afternoon declared a disaster emergency and authorized Colorado National Guard support.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife issued an emergency closure Monday for all recreation on the Colorado River from the James M. Robb-Colorado River State Park in Fruita through the Utah state line, as crews fight the Snyder fire.
All boating and floating activities, including jet boats, rafting, kayaking, canoeing, tubing and paddleboarding are prohibited in the area, until at least July 4, CPW said. The closure remains in effect from Fruita downstream to the state line, while everything upstream of Fruita remains open to the public.
“CPW is urging the public to respect the closure, not only for your own safety but also to protect the firefighters and emergency responders working diligently on the ground,” the agency said, warning that entering a closed area could result in fines, citations and trespassing charges.
Red Rock fire
Crews working the Red Rock fire, near Debeque in Mesa County, were tested Sunday by strong winds but kept the fire from growing, fire officials with the Colorado Upper River Interagency Management Unit said, estimating the fire at about 341 acres.
The lightning-caused fire was reported Saturday and is burning on federal lands about 12 miles northeast of Grand Junction on the Book Cliffs near Red Rock Canyon.
As of Sunday, the fire was 60% contained. Fifteen engines, four water tenders, three hand crews, a suppression module, a dozer and a Type 2 helicopter were working to control and suppress the flames, the management unit said.
Gold Mountain fire
The Gold Mountain fire has burned 7,103 acres in steep, rugged terrain northeast of Ouray, as of Monday afternoon, according to Colorado’s Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
The fire, which ignited Saturday, prompted evacuations of multiple neighborhoods, closed U.S. 550 through town and led the county to declare a state of emergency. The fire damaged a communications tower, which cut off most cell service in the area.
A cell booster was installed near city hall Sunday evening, but officials urged residents to limit their communications to “essential phone calls and text messages” and avoid streaming video.
Polis declared a disaster emergency Sunday afternoon for the Gold Mountain fire. The declaration activates the Department of Public Safety, the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and the Division of Fire Prevention and Control to support Ouray County’s emergency response and take responsibility for response, recovery and mitigation work on the fire.
The fire started on private land and its cause remains under investigation.
Stage II fire restrictions are in effect for the county, prohibiting any open fires including camp fires, charcoal grills and woodburning stoves.
Ferris fire
The Ferris fire burning in Dolores and Montezuma counties has scorched 15,888 acres, according to officials with the San Juan National Forest. There is no estimated containment.
The fire merged Sunday with the nearby Doe Canyon fire and they are being referred to as the Ferris fire.
As the fire moves northeast, away from areas with ponderosa pine and into terrain with gamble oak, officials expect fire activity to decrease.
“Weather and winds are more favorable for air operations today; however, critical weather, fuels, and fire behavior are still concerns,” officials with the San Juan National Forest said in an update Monday morning. “Firefighters will work aggressively to protect lives, resources, and critical values at risk whenever possible, and disengage as hazardous conditions dictate.”
Crews are scouting the area for safe areas to fight the fire, focusing on protecting homes in the Glade Ranch subdivision and establishing a helispot at the Bradfield Campground. The San Juan National Forest has issued several closures to roads and trails as firefighters work the fire.
Willow fire
The Willow fire started Sunday afternoon near the base of Mount Massive in Lake County and evacuations were quickly put in place for campers and hikers near Turquoise Lake west of Leadville.
As of Monday morning the fire had burned more than 1,200 acres, and roads, campgrounds and trails around the lake are closed and being evacuated. The fire quickly moved nearly 2 miles after starting around 4 p.m. June 28, officials said Monday. The cause remains under investigation.
Evacuation and preevacuation orders are in effect, according to the Lake County Office of Emergency Management. Tuesday morning officials the fire was active Monday afternoon and was mapped overnight at 1,919 acres.
“With the recent activity in the entire state of Colorado, there is a battle for resources,” Tim Ross, USFS incident commander based out of Colorado Springs, said during a news conference Monday night on the Willow fire. “Federal resources are in across the state, that’s not to say the local resources are overmatched or overwhelmed or anything like that, but we’re a force multiplier and we go where there is a need in the state.” Later adding, “It is tight. It is a struggle.”
Big Sheep fire
The Huerfano County Sheriff’s Department said the Big Sheep fire was first reported Monday afternoon near Moonshine Ranch, which is west of Walsenburg. It has burned 314 acres, the sheriff’s department said at 6 p.m. Monday.
Multiple fire crews are on the scene near County Road 531 and west of Sheep Mountain. Pre-evacuations were ordered Monday evening for all those between the fire and Highway 69 and to Farisita. The cause of the fire has not been released.
Photojournalist Mike Sweeney contributed to this report.