WETMORE, Colo. -- Residents were anxious to return to their homes in the Wetmore Fire evacuation area Thursday but only some of them could.
"The public wants back in but there are downed power lines and gas tanks venting that they are still working on that are safety hazards," said Ralph Bellah of the U.S. Forest Service early Thursday.
Some hot spots still were being tended to by the approximately 300 firefighters assigned to the Type II incident management team, which took over command early Thursday. Cool weather helped and by 5 p.m. the fire was 65 percent contained.
At noon Thursday the Colorado Department of Transportation reopened Colorado 96 and Colorado 67. About the same time, residents outside the burn area were allowed to go home.
Those residences within the fire perimeter remain evacuated as firefighters assess safety concerns and infrastructure condition.
All county roads within the fire area (mainly Custer County Roads 389, 390 and 391) also remain closed, according to Beth of County Road 3251 and west of Siloam Road.
"Everything north of the Wet Mountain Goods store (on Colorado 96) survived but south of the store, there is damage," said Chas Clifton, Wetmore volunteer firefighter.
Clifton said his house survived. A total of 14 homes were destroyed or damaged.
"Everybody knows somebody whose house was lost and it is extremely personal to us (firefighters). It makes it much more of a punch in the gut," Clifton said.
Residents got their first look at the devastation during van tours led by Custer County sheriff's officials.
At the same time, Jackie Hobby, Custer County Planning and Zoning director, was working with volunteers to inventory and document the damage.
San Isabel Electric Co. workers were trying to restore power. Cause of the 2,100-acre wildfire, which started Tuesday afternoon, remains under investigation.
A Disaster Recovery Information Center for victims is slated to run from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Wetmore Volunteer Fire Station, 200 County Road 290.
Copyright 2012 - The Pueblo Chieftain, Colo.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
