Three wildfires have consumed nearly 200 acres on the Western Slope and in southern Colorado, forcing residents to evacuate, according to fire officials across the state.
Jump to: Bear fire Willow fire | Spring Creek fire
The Bear fire near Trinidad
Evacuations were partially lifted Thursday morning for the nearly 150-acre Bear fire burning in Las Animas County, . Residents living on Las Animas County Road 78.9 and Bear Springs Trail were ordered to evacuate on Wednesday.
As of Thursday morning, residents living north of County Road 78.9 were allowed to return home, but mandatory evacuation orders remained active to the south, .
The fire was last estimated to have consumed 148 acres north of Trinidad, near the U.S. Army’s Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site, according to the .
The Red Cross opened a shelter for evacuees at the Las Animas County Fairgrounds, 2000 N. Linden Ave. in Trinidad.
Information about the cause of the fire was not available.
The Willow fire near Rifle
A Willow fire sparked in a Rifle backyard just after 4 p.m. Wednesday and quickly spread to 3 acres of wildland along Government Creek, according to Colorado River Fire Rescue.
The fire destroyed an eight-unit apartment building and forced evacuations near Willow Creek Circle and West 30th Street, agency officials said. An update on those evacuations was not available Thursday morning.
“Fire crews remain on scene working to contain the fire, extinguish hot spots and assess damage,” Colorado River Fire Rescue officials said Wednesday night. “The cause of the fire remains under investigation.”
Lift-Up, a food security nonprofit, will be at the Garfield County Fairgrounds in Rifle until 1 p.m. Thursday to support families displaced by the fire, .
“LIFT-UP is on the way to the Rifle Fairgrounds with 72-hour emergency bags, food, drinks, hygiene supplies, and other essential items for those affected,” . “If you or someone you know has been impacted, please help spread the word. We want to ensure our neighbors have access to the support and resources they need during this difficult time.”
The Spring Creek fire near Aspen
As of 9 p.m. Wednesday, the Spring Creek fire was burning on 20 acres northeast of Aspen with no containment, .
“Fire activity picked up as the temperature and wind increased throughout the day,” Eagle County officials wrote in the Wednesday update. “Another day of critical fire weather conditions is expected (Thursday).”
The wildfire, initially called the , was reported near Ruedi Reservoir in White River National Forest just before 2 p.m. Tuesday. The fast-growing fire quickly caused Eagle County officials to order mandatory evacuations for land north of Brush Creek Road and south of Crooked Creek.
People living along Eagle-Thomasville Road, also known as Crooked Creek Pass, should leave the area immediately, county officials said.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
This is a developing story and may be updated.
