A wildfire spreading through the tree tops north of Deckers scorched 105 acres as of this evening and forced the evacuation of some homes and four picnic areas.
The fire is near the location of 2002’s Hayman fire, the largest wildfire in the state’s recorded history, which burned 138,000 acres and destroyed 133 homes.
Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputies knocked on doors at between 12 and 15 homes today and asked those who responded to leave the area, said Jim Shires, a spokesman for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s office.
Evacuating the picnic areas at Bridge Crossing, Platte River, Scraggy View and Willow Bend is a precaution, said Shires. “We don’t want anyone to get caught up on a trail and not be able to get out. We don’t think that’s happening, but we don’t want to take any chances.”
The fire on rugged pine-covered U.S. Forest Service land near Colorado Highway 67 in the Olyoke community threatens residents of the Spring Creek subdivision who have been notified they, too, may have to evacuate.
The American Red Cross established an evacuation center at Conifer High School. By 7:30 p.m. only one or two people had come to the shelter and it was closed.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office also has set up a large animal evacuation center at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds.
The cause of the fire still isn’t known.
Crews with the U.S. Forest Service, Platte Canyon Fire Department and the North Fork Fire Department are fighting the blaze.
More federal “hand crews,” whose members build fire lines, have been ordered to the scene, said U.S. Forest Service wildland manager Nancy Brewer.
A helicopter and four air tankers dropped water and fire retardant slurry on the blaze and another helocopter and tanker have been ordered, Brewer said.
Dispatchers received their first report of the blaze at 12:20 p.m. About one-hour-and-a-half later the flames were licking at the tree-tops, increasing the likelihood that the blaze would spread as breezes carry it from tree to tree.
At 4:15 p.m. the Forest Service called for assistance to protect homes and other buildings through the night, according its Pueblo Dispatch Center.
By 5 p.m. more than 100 acres were burning, Shire said.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is monitoring the blaze in neighboring Jefferson County, which is moving in a northwesterly direction.
So far the fire doesn’t threaten Douglas County, but deputies are patrolling the Douglas County side of the Platte River warning campers about the fire.
No one on the Douglas County side of the river has been evacuated.
Platte River Road (Douglas County Road 97) ws closed between Night Hawk Hill (Douglas County Road 40) and Sugar Creek.
Tom McGhee: (303)954-1671 or tmcghee@denverpost.com
