DENVER – Firefighters will continue to battle Mother Nature as they work to contain multiple large wildfires burning in Colorado this week.
Several new fires broke out last week amid hot, dry conditions and those challenging conditions will persist in the coming days with little chance of new moisture in most parts of the state.
The Spring Fire in Costilla County, which started on Wednesday, has destroyed 104 homes and is now the largest fire burning in the state. Fire officials said Monday night that the fire, which is burning between La Veta and Fort Garland, is more than 56,800 acres in size. It’s now 10 percent contained.
Here are the latest details on some of the large fires burning across the state:
Spring Fire
Location: 5 miles E of Ft. Garland
Size: 56,280
Containment: 10 percent
San Luis Valley Emergency tweeted Monday night that 104 homes have been destroyed so far by the wildfire east of Fort Garland. The blaze has burned 89 square miles and forced the evacuation of more than 2,000 homes since last Wednesday.
Highway 160 remains closed due to fire activity. There is no estimate of reopening at this time. Highway 12 is also closed in the Cuchara Valley area due to mandatory evacuations. A total of 593 homes have been evacuated in Costilla County, while 1,483 homes have been evacuated in Huerfano County.
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.
A Danish man was arrested on suspicion of arson charges and placed on an immigration hold last week in connection to the fire.
A community meeting for those who have had to evacuate their homes is scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday at the evacuation center at the Blanca/Fort Garland Community Center, 17591 E. Hwy. 160.
Anyone with further questions about the Spring Fire can call a hotline set up at 719-480-8719.
Divide Fire
Location: 32 miles NW of Craig
Size: 5,136 acres
Containment: 10 percent
Road closures are in place at the intersection of Moffat County Roads 7 and 17; and Moffat County Roads 7 and 5. One home was destroyed near the Town of Divide.
High Chateau Fire
Location: NW of Cripple Creek
Size: 1,522 acres
Containment: 0 percent
Weston Pass Fire
Location: 9 miles SW of Fairplay
Size: 4,138 acres
Containment: 0 percent
Sugarloaf Fire
Location: 13 miles SW of Fraser
Size: 1,322 acres
Containment: 0 percent
Stonemoor Fire
Location: Stonemoor neighborhood, Pueblo
Size: 217 acres
Containment: 100 percent
Golf Course Fire
Location: Near Grand Lake
Size: 20 acres
Containment: 100 percent
416 Fire
Location: 13 miles N of Durango
Size: 51,068 acres
Containment: 37 percent
Burro Fire
Location: 14 miles S of Rico
Size: 4,415 acres
Containment: 40 percent
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.
