A 7,326-acre wildfire sparked by lightning in the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness more than a month ago flared up Sunday, spreading despite freezing night temperatures, forcing new evacuations near towns along the Arkansas River and emitting smoky particulate plumes that raised health concerns.
Federal fire managers had to withdraw 755 firefighters from efforts to suppress the Decker fire, which expanded Sunday in the area south of Salida, U.S. Forest Service fire information officer Penny Bertram said.
“The firefighters have pulled back. We have an air tanker on request” to drop retardant on the fire, Bertram said.
“It moved really fast. We had to pull the firefighters out. That was right about noon. They were working to hold the lines.”
Air quality specialists deployed to Salida and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment issued an air quality advisory due to heavy wildfire smoke wafting over southeastern Chaffee and northwestern Fremont counties in the area between Salida and Cotopaxi. Health officials advised residents who see thick smoke to stay indoors.
Colorado mountain residents as far north as Fairplay in South Park and south of Poncha Springs in Saguache County reported impacts from smoke.
Temperatures dropping to 32 degrees at night typically help squelch wildfires. Colorado’s “fire season” traditionally has not extended into October, though in recent years wildfires have burned as late as November.
The National Weather Service warned of gusty conditions that favor rapid ignition, growth and spread of wildfire. Douglas fir trees at higher elevations and pinon-and-juniper forests toward the river have proved highly flammable.
“Those fuels remain really dry, even though it is cold at night, and the fire is still growing due to a lack of moisture, low humidity and the wind,” Bertram said. “That creates some really extreme fire behavior.”
Around noon, flames jumped the Rainbow Trail that runs along the Sangre de Cristo mountains — just as firefighting crews were clearing lines to try to contain the fire. Flames were spreading northeast toward Howard.
Fremont and Chaffee county authorities around 2:17 p.m. ordered about 50 buildings evacuated near Bear Creek Silverheels, Wellsville and Swissvale, following previous evacuations in the Methodist Mountain area closer to Salida.
The authorities on Sunday warned other residents to be ready to evacuate near Howard. Fire had spread to forests about 7 miles from town, officials said.
The Decker fire started around Sept. 8 with a lightning strike in the wilderness. Initially, fire managers tracking this blaze said that, because the fire was relatively small and burning in wilderness, about 50 firefighters would monitor it but that they were allowing it to burn to try to take advantage of ecological benefits for ailing, insect-ravaged forests.
“We’re not going to be suppressing it,” an incident command spokesman said in September. “Out here in the West, fire is part of the eco-cycle, always has been part of it. Lightning caused this fire. We’re trying to let it do some good, burn off some beetle kill.”
But on Sunday, forest service officials said the Decker fire “was always a suppression fire” and that rough terrain in the wilderness initially had prevented firefighters from attacking it in the early stages.
The Decker fire likely has burned across an area wider than 7,326 acres, to be determined once another aerial survey is done, officials said Sunday afternoon.
Heavy smoke from wildfires can increase the likelihood of respiratory trouble for sensitive people and worsen heart and lung problems. Health officials said people with heart and lung disease, the elderly and children should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion.
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