June 07 -- La Plata County deputies began knocking on doors in an expanded evacuation area north of Durango early Thursday morning after the 416 wildfire spread to 5,103 acres in southwest Colorado.
A total of 497 homes were evacuated Thursday morning, bringing the total number of homes evacuated to 1,276, said Megan Graham, La Plata County spokesman. Pre-evacuation orders have been issued to an additional 750 homeowners, Graham said.
The wildfire is only 10 percent contained, she said. Firefighting conditions are terrible because the wildfire is burning in steep terrain in a drought area.
“It’s very hot and windy,” Graham said.
A house-by-house mandatory evacuation began at 6 a.m. for homes in the Hermosa area north from Cometti and Mead Lane to the intersection of La Plata County Road 250C and U.S. 550.
There are 598 firefighters and 20 aircraft assigned to the fire.
Northbound U.S. 550 will remain closed Thursday until evacuations are complete, officials reported.
The Escalante Middle School at 141 Baker Lane in Durango has been designated as an evacuation center and shelter.
Evacuated residents are asked to check in at the evacuation center to receive credentials for re-entry when conditions allow the evacuation order to be lifted.
Livestock can be evacuated to the La Plata County Fairgrounds at 2500 Main Ave. The emergency call center at (970) 385-8700 can help coordinate livestock transport. Small animals are being accepted at the La Plata County Humane Society, 1111 South Camino del Rio.
___ (c)2018 The Denver Post Visit The Denver Post at www.denverpost.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
