SPRING CREEK FIRE

The human-caused Spring Creek fire, which has burned more than 60,700 acres in Costilla County, has destroyed at least 104 homes, fire officials said Monday night. A 52-year-old man from Denmark, Jesper Joergensen, has been arrested on suspicion of arson for starting the fire on June 27 about 9 miles northeast of Fort Garland. Joergensen is in the United States on an expired visa, according to an arrest warrant.

The fire has formed two distinct columns, fire officials said. The Rocky Mountain Incident Management team blue will manage the north column and the RMIM team black with manage the south column. U.S. Highway 160 remains closed in the area because of fire activity and Colorado 12 is also closed in the Cuchara Valley area.

So far, 104 homes were destroyed and 61 intact. Property owners in the portion of Forbes Park assessed so far may see the Assessment Report at https://t.co/vPzl5VugtU. More assessments to come later as investigation & safety allow #SpringFire — SLVEmergency (@SLVEmergency) July 3, 2018

On Monday, single-digit humidity, hot weather and winds prompted the National Weather Service to post a Red Flag Warning for “extreme fire behavior” in the area. Winds gusted to 30 mph and relative humidity dropped to 8 percent in some areas.

Current and continuing weather conditions in Colorado have contributed to fueling and spreading wildfires, the red flag warning said. The fire was 5 percent contained as of Monday afternoon.

Members of the U.S. Air Force Reserve Command’s 302nd Airlift Wing, based out of Peterson Air Force Base, flew multiple fire retardant drops on the Spring Creek fire on Monday. The drops were carried out by two specially equipped C-130 Hercules aircraft and aircrews, according to the 302nd Airlift Wing.

Air Force Reserve C-130s from Peterson AFB: 21st Space Wing are supporting Colorado fire suppression efforts

Read the story here:… https://t.co/0j9nnp0pur — 302nd Airlift Wing (@302AirliftWing) July 3, 2018

The planes, which are owned by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, can discharge 3,000 gallons of fire retardant in less than 10 seconds, covering an area about one-quarter of a mile by 100-feet wide. The planes refill on the ground in about 12 minutes.

416 FIRE

“There are no remaining evacuation orders or pre-evacuation notices in place due to the 416 fire” as of late Monday afternoon, according to La Plata County officials.

The fire, which started on June 1 about 10 miles north of Durango, has burned about 51,000 acres and was 37 percent contained on Monday afternoon, fire officials said.

At 4 p.m. Monday, pre-evacuation notices were lifted for the Falls Creek and High Meadows subdivisions. The lifting of the notices affected 447 residences and five commercial structures.

Stage 3 fire restrictions remain in effect in La Plata County and prohibit:

Access to La Plata County owned trails, encampments, open space and unimproved lands.

Indoor fire places and wood-burning stoves without an approved interior and exterior chimney spark arrestor.

The sale, discharge or use of any kind of firework or other pyrotechnic device (including Fourth of July celebrations).

The use of floating sky lanterns, fire balloons or acetylene balloons.

Discharge of firearms or the use of exploding targets.

Widespread, dense smoke is causing issues in the fire area, and smoky conditions are expected overnight and before 10 a.m. Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. Skies will be mostly sunny over the next few days. The first chance — 20 percent — of showers and thunderstorms for the area will be on Thursday afternoon.

Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post Kyle Swanstrom, right, a firefighter with a Type II hand crew with Idaho Department of Lands, chats with members of his crew after gearing up before heading out for the day on the fire line of the 416 Fire on June 14, 2018 in Hermosa. The fire is estimated at about 32,000 acres with only 15% containment. Predicted thunderstorms may bring strong outflow winds and increase the potential for extreme fire behavior today. The fire, burning 23 miles northwest of Durango, started June 1.

Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post Coty Newby, a firefighter with a Type II hand crew with Idaho Department of Lands, prepares his gear with his crew before heading out for the day on the fire line of the 416 Fire on June 14, 2018 in Hermosa. The fire is estimated at about 32,000 acres with only 15% containment. Predicted thunderstorms may bring strong outflow winds and increase the potential for extreme fire behavior today. The fire, burning 23 miles northwest of Durango, started June 1.

Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post Weary hot shot firefighters make their way to breakfast from fire camp before heading back out on the fire line of the 416 Fire on June 14, 2018 in Hermosa. The fire is estimated at about 32,000 acres with only 15% containment. Predicted thunderstorms may bring strong outflow winds and increase the potential for extreme fire behavior today. The fire, burning 23 miles northwest of Durango, started June 1.



Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post A firefighters with Grand Fire and Rescue gives a thumbs up to his rig as they move out of fire camp to head back on the fire line of the 416 Fire on June 14, 2018 in Hermosa. The fire is estimated at about 32,000 acres with only 15% containment. Predicted thunderstorms may bring strong outflow winds and increase the potential for extreme fire behavior today. The fire, burning 23 miles northwest of Durango, started June 1.

Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post Firefighters make their way back from breakfast at fire camp before heading back out on the fire line of the 416 Fire on June 14, 2018 in Hermosa. The fire is estimated at about 32,000 acres with only 15% containment. Predicted thunderstorms may bring strong outflow winds and increase the potential for extreme fire behavior today. The fire, burning 23 miles northwest of Durango, started June 1.

Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post A firefighter makes his way through tents at fire camp before heading back out on the fire line of the 416 Fire on June 14, 2018 in Hermosa. The fire is estimated at about 32,000 acres with only 15% containment. Predicted thunderstorms may bring strong outflow winds and increase the potential for extreme fire behavior today. The fire, burning 23 miles northwest of Durango, started June 1.



Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post Lucas Hight, left, and Brydon Proctor, middle, firefighters with a Type II hand crew with Idaho Department of Lands, check the engine of their truck in fire camp before heading out for the day on the fire line of the 416 Fire on June 14, 2018 in Hermosa. The fire is estimated at about 32,000 acres with only 15% containment. Predicted thunderstorms may bring strong outflow winds and increase the potential for extreme fire behavior today. The fire, burning 23 miles northwest of Durango, started June 1.

Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post A member of the Cedar City Hot shot crew cleans the windows of his rig before his crew heads back out on the fire line of the 416 Fire on June 14, 2018 in Hermosa. The fire is estimated at about 32,000 acres with only 15% containment. Predicted thunderstorms may bring strong outflow winds and increase the potential for extreme fire behavior today. The fire, burning 23 miles northwest of Durango, started June 1.

Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post Lucas Hight, middle, a firefighter with a Type II hand crew with Idaho Department of Lands, chats with members of his crew after gearing up before heading out for the day on the fire line of the 416 Fire on June 14, 2018 in Hermosa. The fire is estimated at about 32,000 acres with only 15% containment. Predicted thunderstorms may bring strong outflow winds and increase the potential for extreme fire behavior today. The fire, burning 23 miles northwest of Durango, started June 1.



Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post Thomas McClure, a firefighter with a type II hand crew from Mission Valley, Montana sharpens his hand tools before he and his crew head out onto the fire line of the 416 Fire on June 14, 2018 in Hermosa. The fire is estimated at about 32,000 acres with only 15% containment. Predicted thunderstorms may bring strong outflow winds and increase the potential for extreme fire behavior today. The fire, burning 23 miles northwest of Durango, started June 1.

Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post Michael Umphrey, a firefighter with a Type II hand crew from Mission Valley Reservation in Montana, gets ready to head out for the day on the fire line of the 416 Fire on June 14, 2018 in Hermosa. The fire is estimated at about 32,000 acres with only 15% containment. Predicted thunderstorms may bring strong outflow winds and increase the potential for extreme fire behavior today. The fire, burning 23 miles northwest of Durango, started June 1.

Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post Cody Griffin, a crew boss with Idaho Department of Lands, oversees his crew as they prepare to head out for the day on the fire line of the 416 Fire on June 14, 2018 in Hermosa. The fire is estimated at about 32,000 acres with only 15% containment. Predicted thunderstorms may bring strong outflow winds and increase the potential for extreme fire behavior today. The fire, burning 23 miles northwest of Durango, started June 1.



Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post Mike Von Lintig, a firefighter with a Type II hand crew with Idaho Department of Lands, gets the daily briefing with his crew before heading out for the day on the fire line of the 416 Fire on June 14, 2018 in Hermosa. The fire is estimated at about 32,000 acres with only 15% containment. Predicted thunderstorms may bring strong outflow winds and increase the potential for extreme fire behavior today. The fire, burning 23 miles northwest of Durango, started June 1.

Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post Nick Olson, a firefighter with a type II hand crew from Mission Valley, Montana, is ready to hit the fire line of the 416 Fire on June 14, 2018 in Hermosa. The fire is estimated at about 32,000 acres with only 15% containment. Predicted thunderstorms may bring strong outflow winds and increase the potential for extreme fire behavior today. The fire, burning 23 miles northwest of Durango, started June 1.

Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post Ben Hurd, a firefighter with a Type II hand crew with Idaho Department of Lands, gets ready to head out for the day on the fire line of the 416 Fire on June 14, 2018 in Hermosa. The fire is estimated at about 32,000 acres with only 15% containment. Predicted thunderstorms may bring strong outflow winds and increase the potential for extreme fire behavior today. The fire, burning 23 miles northwest of Durango, started June 1.



Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post Durango resident Ted Hood stands along Highway 550 and waves to firefighters as they head back out to the 416 Fire on June 14, 2018 in Hermosa. The fire is estimated at about 32,000 acres with only 15% containment. Predicted thunderstorms may bring strong outflow winds and increase the potential for extreme fire behavior today. Hood has been standing along the firefighter's route every single morning for almost a week to show his support for the hundreds of people working the fire.

HIGH CHATEAU FIRE

About 200 firefighters are battling the High Chateau fire, which has burned more than 1,300 acres about 7 miles northwest of Cripple Creek. The fire is burning through tall grass, ponderosa pine and mixed conifer, according to fire officials.

On Monday afternoon, the “fire behavior on the northeast portion of the fire increased and the fire spotted across High Meadows Drive,” according to firefighters. Single engine air tankers dropped multiple loads of fire retardant and helicopter drops were also carried out on Monday afternoon.

The fire has been moving north and east. There’s been no recent rain in the area and the fire’s size may continue to increase because of dry weather and fuel conditions. The active fire has been doing “short crown runs” and “group torching.” The blaze’s “resistance to control is high,” fire officials said. The fire started on June 29 and the cause is under investigation.

WESTON PASS FIRE

The fire grew to more than 6,400 acres Monday afternoon, fire officials said. The blaze, caused by a lightning strike, broke out on June 28 about 9 miles southwest of Fairplay. Firefighters expect the fire to grow as winds continue in the area. A containment date has been set for July 29. About 300 firefighters are battling the blaze.

CHEDSEY FIRE

A 5-acre fire was reported Monday in Jackson County, burning in Routt National Forest about 15 miles southwest of Walden. The Teal Lake campground was evacuated because of the fire, 80 firefighters are battling the blaze.

ADOBE FIRE

The 6-acre fire was reported Monday burning through timber about 6 miles west of Wetmore. Air support efforts on the fire included a lead plane, one heavy air tanker and two helicopters.