Breckenridge – Classes were canceled today at Summit High School as fire investigators checked the air quality inside after a wildfire the day before burned to within 200 yards of the buildings.
Investigators were also inspecting the school for damage, and it was unclear when classes would resume.
“Once we find out the results of the air quality, they’ll make a determination as to whether they feel it’s safe enough for all the students to show up there,” said Lt. Mike Roll with Red-White-Blue Fire Department near Breckenridge.
The fire, in the mountains about 55 miles southwest of Denver, was discovered near the end of classes Monday and forced the evacuation of the school and residents out of about 20 nearby homes for about four hours.
Six firefighters monitored the 10- to 15-acre blaze overnight and reported no significant activity, Roll said.
The cause is still under investigation.
Roll said firefighters sprayed a wet line around the fire, which was about 80 percent contained. Firefighters expected to contain the fire by this evening.
Three engines and 35 firefighters were on scene.
Meanwhile, an eight-acre wildfire burning in rugged terrain about three miles northwest of Manitou Springs was 50 percent contained, according to the U.S. Forest Service. No structures were threatened and no evacuations were ordered. Hand crews dug a line around the entire perimeter of the fire and hoped to have the blaze fully contained by 6 p.m. today.
A heavy air tanker, a helicopter, one single-engine air tanker and 60 firefighters were on scene.
Fire officials were monitoring a 1,000-acre wildfire in the San Juan National Forest in southwest Colorado, but it was being managed for ecological restoration. Two Forest Service roads were closed, said Larry Helmerick of the Rocky Mountain Area Coordination center.
