Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostFirefighters from left to right Spencer Heidepriem, Lydia Zowada, and Carmella Locascio conduct a burnout operation to protect structures of the Spring Creek Fire on July 9, 2018 in La Veta. Containment numbers continue to climb in the fire as officials gain more of a handle on the large fire.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostTaskforce leader Scott Affeldt walks through a burned area of the Spring Creek Fire as he and his crew maintain structure protection on July 9, 2018 in La Veta. Containment numbers continue to climb in the fire as officials gain more of a handle on the large fire.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostFirefighter Lydia Zowada puts out hotspots as she and her crew conduct a burnout operation to protect structures of the Spring Creek Fire on July 9, 2018 in La Veta. Containment numbers continue to climb in the fire as officials gain more of a handle on the large fire.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostFirefighters from left to right Carmella Locascio, Lydia Zowada and Spencer Heidepriem conduct a burnout operation to protect structures of the Spring Creek Fire on July 9, 2018 in La Veta. Containment numbers continue to climb in the fire as officials gain more of a handle on the large fire.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostDivision supervisor trainee Amy McClave oversees burnout operation to protect structures of the Spring Creek Fire on July 9, 2018 in La Veta. Containment numbers continue to climb in the fire as officials gain more of a handle on the large fire.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostThe northern end of the Spring Creek Fire burns up a steep canyon on July 8, 2018 in La Veta.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostA Chinook helicopter makes a water drop near the Paradise Acres subdivision as they continue to help put out the Spring Creek Fire on La Veta Pass on July 8, 2018 between La Veta and Fort Garland.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostFirefighters from Chaffee County fill up their water tender as Chinook helicopters put water on the Spring Creek Fire on La Veta Pass on July 8, 2018 between La Veta and Fort Garland.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostA spot fire burns a juniper tree on the northern end of the Spring Creek Fire on July 8, 2018 in La Veta.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostTrees along Highway 160 smoulder from the Spring Creek Fire on La Veta Pass July 8, 2018 between La Veta and Fort Garland.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostChinook helicopters pass in the air as they do water drops near Paradise Acres as they continue to help put out the Spring Creek Fire on La Veta Pass on July 8, 2018 between La Veta and Fort Garland.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostBoth sides of Highway 160 have burned from the Spring Creek Fire on La Veta Pass on July 8, 2018 between La Veta and Fort Garland.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostLarry Morgan walks through a small cemetery on his burned property and his home at the bottom of La Veta Pass on July 9, 2018, in La Veta, Colorado.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostLarry Morgan looks at the headstone for his mother Opal Mary Ann Morgan who is buried in a small cemetery on his property and his home at the bottom of La Veta Pass on July 9, 2018 in La Veta. The family lost their home and 300 acres of beautiful land to the Spring Creek Fire. The family cemetery is where Larry's mother, cousin, and brother are buried. While he is devastated by the loss of the house and land he was thankful that the headstones survived the fire and are still standing.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostTami Morgan, 13, looks up towards her father Larry Morgan, right, as she carefully sifts through what used to be the front entrance of her family home at the bottom of La Veta pass on July 9, 2018 in La Veta. She and her family lost their home and 300 acres of beautiful land to the Spring Creek Fire. The family has lived in the area since 1977.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostThe home of Larry and Jeanie Morgan lies in a pile of rubble after being completely destroyed by the Spring Creek Fire on July 9, 2018, in La Veta, Colorado. In the background is Mount Mestas or locally known as Mt. Baldy where the fire continued on a destructive path. Burned trees now cover most of the hillside. The family lost their home and more than 300 acres to the Spring Creek Fire. The fire took their home the second day of the fire.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostA CDOT employee watches as Chinook helicopters put water on the Spring Creek Fire on La Veta Pass on July 8, 2018 between La Veta and Fort Garland.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostPronghorn antelope share a field with cattle as the northern end of the Spring Creek Fire burns up a steep canyon on July 8, 2018 in La Veta.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostThe northern end of the Spring Creek Fire burns up a steep canyon on July 8, 2018 in La Veta.
Andy Cross, The Denver PostHeavy fire smoke hangs on La Vita Pass along Highway 160 as a result from the Spring Creek fire July 07, 2018.
Andy Cross, The Denver PostSpring Creek fire evacuee David Krom, upper right, listens patiently to a fire official during a daily briefing at the Blanca/Fort Garland Community Center July 07, 2018.
Andy Cross, The Denver PostSpring fire evacuees Dave and Judy Lemay fold up laundry at The Lodge Motel in Fort Garland July 06, 2018.
Andy Cross, The Denver PostColorado Governor John Hickenlooper, center, discusses the Spring Fire during a press conference on the Sierra Grande School grounds along with U.S. REp. Scott Tipton, left, and U.S. Senator Cory Garnder in Fort Garland July 05, 2018.
Andy Cross, The Denver PostEvacuees Rudy Garcia, left, and his wife of 63-years Delores, from San Antonio Texas, look over the Spring Fire map from the American Red Cross shelter at the Ft. Garland Community Center July 05, 2018.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostAaron Miller, a firefighter from Caldwell, Idaho, puts ice in a cooler on his brush truck at the spike camp before heading out on the Spring Creek Fire on July 4, 2018.
Andy Cross, The Denver PostSpring Fire evacuee John Ray, enjoys a cold beer under an umbrella at The Lodge Motel July 06, 2018.
Andy Cross, The Denver PostCaroline Shafer, manager of The Lodge Motel in Fort Garland Colorado, busy on the phone at the front desk July 06, 2018. Shafer has taken on many Spring Fire evacuees at the motel, some at no charge.
Andy Cross, The Denver PostA thank you card poster awaits firefighters inside the American Red Cross shelter at the Ft. Garland Community Center July 05, 2018. The Spring fire has consumed over 100,000 acres and has destroyed over 130 homes.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostFirefighters listen to the morning briefing at the spike camp before heading out on the Spring Creek Fire on July 4, 2018, in La Veta.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostTim Mathewson, Incident meteorologist gives an update on the daily weather expected for the Spring Creek fire during the daily morning briefing at the spike camp on July 4, 2018, in La Veta.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostRosebud Sioux firefighter Chance Wooden Knife, left, throws a bad of ice to firefighter Smokey Kills Smart, right, at the spike camp as their Type II initial attack hand crew gets ready to head out on the Spring Creek Fire on July 4, 2018, in La Veta.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostAurora firefighter Eric Brown, left, ties his shoes as Aurora firefighter Ray Simmons chats with firefighter Doug Berg, from Platte Canyon, at the spike camp before heading out on the Spring Creek Fire on July 4, 2018, in La Veta.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostBill "Coach" Price leads Tobie, one of three rescued horses, out of the burn area of the Spring Creek Fire in Piney Ridge Ranch on July 4, 2018, in La Veta.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostVeterinarian Dr. Romy Nicoletta, right, checks out Dancer, a horse owned by Dennis Ceremuga, left, after rescuing him and two others from the burned area one week after the Spring Creek Fire forced Ceremuga to evacuate from his home in Piney Ridge Ranch on July 4, 2018, in La Veta.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostVeterinarian Dr. Romy Nicoletta, left, looks at a bite wound on a young puppy staying at the Huerfano County Fairgrounds during the Spring Creek Fire on July 4, 2018, in La Veta.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostThe Spring Creek Fire continues to burn in Costilla county on July 3, 2018, in La Veta.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostLa Veta Marshall Harold Willburn watches the movement of Tthe Spring Creek Fire as it continues to burn in Costilla county on July 3, 2018, in La Veta.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostTy Warren leaves a pen where his father's cattle are being kept at the Huerfano County Fairgrounds where displaced people have brought their pets for safe keeping as the Spring Creek Fire continues to burn on July 3, 2018, in La Veta.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostKaren Bayci pets her African Gray parrot Smokey inside her shop Casa de Pajaros on July 4, 2018.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostBrandon Laird holds his daughter Emmy, 4, as they watch the sun sets over the Spring Creek Fire on July 4, 2018.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostLibby Barbee, left, her daughter Emmy, husband Brandon Laird and father Ron Barbee, far right, holds watch the sun set over the Spring Creek Fire on July 4, 2018.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostA firefighting helicopter heads back to the heli-base operations as the sun sets on the Spring Creek Fire on July 4, 2018, in La Veta.
Hyoung Chang, The Denver PostDavid Hood of Walsenburg prepares the sigh for firefighters at La Veda. July 6, 2018.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
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Firefighters from left to right Spencer Heidepriem, Lydia Zowada, and Carmella Locascio conduct a burnout operation to protect structures of the Spring Creek Fire on July 9, 2018 in La Veta. Containment numbers continue to climb in the fire as officials gain more of a handle on the large fire.
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By Helen H. Richardson | hrichardson@denverpost.com | The Denver Post, Andy Cross | across@denverpost.com | The Denver Post and Hyoung Chang | hchang@denverpost.com | The Denver Post
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Getting your player ready...
A 300-foot-high tsunami of wildfire swept over a subdivision overnight turning an untold number of homes into cinders and making unprecedented acreage gains in the middle of the night when wildfires are normally docile, authorities say.
“It was a perfect fire storm. This is a national disaster at this time,” said Ben Brack, fire spokesman of the racing Spring Creek fire now burning in three southern Colorado counties. “You can imagine standing in front of a tsunami or tornado and trying to stop it from destroying homes. A human response is ineffective.”
Since the fire was ignited by a man cooking in a fire pit on June 27, wind currents out of the southwest have been mostly pushing the north end of the 100,000-acre-plus wildfire in a northeasterly direction. But a cold front swept in overnight turning the fire 180 degrees. It was a good thing for homes on the eastern flank, but an absolutely devastating turn of events for neighborhoods and pine forests on the western flank, Brack said.