The Beaver Creek fire grew to 9,114 acres overnight. The blaze was pushed south and west by strong winds and helped by days of lower humidity.
, has spread onto wilderness lands in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness, west of Big Creek Lakes in the Routt National Forest.
The fire, currently at 5 percent containment, is expected to continue growing. Operations Section Trainee Chief Aaron Thompson briefed firefighters saying “the fire is going to stand up and move,” according to an update released by the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Blue Team.
Resources continue to include air and ground support.
“Air attack began watching the fire this morning and ground crews will have helicopters available to them for cooling spot fires and hot spots,” according to the news release. “Structure protection engines will again prepare by setting up sprinkler systems, removing fuel and defending structures threatened by the fire. Dozers are working to build and improve on contingency fire lines.”
Monday night, firefighters assisted with a civilian injury near a contingency fire line. A person was transported to a hospital. No other information was immediately made available.
All residential structures have been saved to date, but the sheriff’s office has reported two outbuildings lost to the fire.
Existing evacuation orders remain in place due to the hazardous conditions near the fire perimeter.
The cause of the wildfire, first reported northwest of Walden on June 19, is still under investigation. Anyone with information on suspicious activity that weekend in the Twisty Park area is asked to contact U.S. Forest Service Officer Hannah Nadeau at 307-343-2335.
