Firefighters continue to battle two wildfires in Colorado, one outside of Cripple Creek and the other near Pagosa Springs.
High Park fire
Evacuation orders for the High Park fire, burning in Teller County, have been lifted and County Road 11 has been reopened.
The fire, which is burning about 5.5 miles west of Cripple Creek, is 69% contained, according to fire officials. It has scorched about 1,572 acres, or about 2.5 square miles since starting on Thursday.
The gain in containment is mostly on the east side of the fire, behind homes on Lakemoor Drive. The Lakemoor had been under evacuation prior to Wednesday. Only residents will be able to access the area, according to the Teller County Sheriff’s Office. County Road 11, also known as High Park Road, has been reopened between County Road 112 and mile marker 3.
Ground crews are removing brush from areas and fighting the fire along uncontained perimeter of the fire. Smoke will continue to be visible within the fire interior, according to fire officials.
Firefighters are scouting in the Cripple Creek Ranches area, which had also been under evacuation, making plans to fight the fire should it run east. Work in the Mount Pisgah area is ongoing.
There’s a 65% chance of afternoon precipitation in the fire area, according to the fire command. A red flag warning for high fire danger, because of strong winds and high humidity, is set to be posted for the area at 11 a.m. Thursday, and set to expire at 9 p.m. Teller County is under Stage 2 fire restrictions — a ban on outdoor fires. The cause of the fire is unknown.
Plumtaw fire
The Plumtaw fire has burned about 600 acres in the San Juan National Forest, about 7 miles north of Pagosa Springs.
The fire was first reported on Tuesday.
The fire has reached Fourmile Road where firefighters are prioritizing holding west of the road.
The Lost Valley of the San Juans neighborhood has a standing evacuation order, according to fire officials. Firefighters are working in the neighborhood on structure protection.
A wildfire Type 3 Team took command of the Plumtaw fire on Wednesday. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
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