The third largest wildfire in Colorado’s history continues to rage through the state with little containment Thursday as several other fires spur evacuations, cancelled flights and concern over a wildfire season kicked into overdrive.
The behemoth “double-headed dragon” Spring Creek fire burning in Costilla and Huerfano counties has once again grown overnight to 103,357 acres, which amounts to more than 7,000 acres overtaken by flames since Wednesday night. As of Wednesday, firefighters had contained 5 percent of the blaze.
Communities surrounding the Spring Creek fire are crossing their fingers for rain that has a chance of falling Thursday and Friday.
Current evacuee information for the hundreds told to leave behind their homes can be found on the Huerfano County Facebook page, the San Luis Valley emergency page for Costilla County evacuees or by calling 719-695-9604 for Huerfano information and 719-480-8719 for Costilla County information.
Meanwhile, the 416 fire burning near Durango reached 54,129 acres Thursday morning at 45 percent containment.
Fire officials were pleased the blaze grew by only 869 acres, calling the fire behavior and spread “very low” on Wednesday. Officials expected the good fortune to continue Thursday.
Progress on the 416 fire is seen as so sufficient that firefighters, helicopters and other equipment are being dismissed and sent to re-mobilize to other high priority fires in the region “where life and property are more directly threatened.”
Some of those firefighters and resources are being diverted to the Weston Pass fire burning 9 miles south of Fairplay, which fire officials covering the 416 fire said presented greater risks for loss of property.
The Weston Pass fire reached more than 10,700 acres at 5 percent containment as of Thursday morning. Firefighters battling the lightning-caused blaze continue to battle “gusty, erratic” winds that are driving the fire.
Evacuations for the Lake Christine fire in Eagle County continue to grow Thursday morning, extending to Missouri Heights, according to the . The fire grew to more than 2,300 acres as of a Thursday morning update. Missouri Heights received its orders to clear out at 12:47 a.m., prompting them to leave via Fender Lane to Catherine Store Road and take Highway 82. Roaring Fork High School has been designated as a shelter.
According to Basalt Fire Chief Scott Thompson on Wednesday, 500 homes were in the path of the fire with the only containment being where the fire started at the Basalt shooting range.
Eagle County Sheriff’s Office cited Allison Marcus, 22, and Richard Miller, 23, for arson charges that ignited the blaze at a shooting range near Basalt on Tuesday.
This is a developing story that will be updated as more information becomes available.
Wildfires in Colorado and the U.S.
The map shows active wildfire locations and all 2018 fire perimeters*. The map defaults to Colorado; to see all wildfires, click “U.S.” in the view area. Click the map layers icon in the top right corner of the map to change map backgrounds and to toggle active and contained fires, and perimeters. Click a marker or perimeter for details. To view the full map and a table of all 2018 wildfires, click here.
*Data comes from two sources, and , and could contain inconsistencies. Map by Kevin Hamm and Daniel J. Schneider.
