Springer Fire Near Lake George At Nearly 1,000 Acres

LAKE GEORGE, Colo. (CBS4) - A wildfire burning about three miles south of Lake George in the Pike National Forest has now burned nearly 1,000 acres in Park County.

The Eleven Mile Canyon Recreation Area and about 150 homes and cabins were evacuated. A Boy Scout camp also had to be evacuated.

The fire was first reported at two to four acres at 1 p.m. Sunday but quickly grew because of the hot, windy weather. About 200 firefighters were battling the blaze. As of 4 p.m. Monday the fire was listed at 970 acres and zero percent contained.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. There were reports that the fire may have been started by people shooting a gun at a fuel tank, but that has not been confirmed. Investigators on Monday said it could have been caused by lightning, but they were just speculating.

The blaze is not far from where the Hayman Fire originated 10 years ago. That fire is the largest in Colorado history, burning 138,000 acres.

No injuries have been reported.

Elevenmile Canyon including Camp Alexander has been evacuated and will remain closed to all recreation and traffic. Park County has issued a mandatory evacuation for the following:

Wagon Tongue subdivision
Echo Valley Subdivision
Circle C Ranch
Beaver Valley Ranch
Beaver Valley Estates
Homes located on County Rd 98 and 403

Teller County has issued a voluntary evacuation notice for the Wilson Lakes subdivision, Forest Glen subdivision, and Blue Mountain.

An evacuation center has been set up by the Red Cross at the High School in Woodland Park. Evacuees can take large animals to the Fairgrounds in Cripple Creek and small animals can be taken to the Teller County Animal Shelter.

Highways 90, 92 and 96 have been blocked off.

Wildfire Resources

- Visit CBSDenver.com's Wildfire Resources section.

- Read recent Wildfire stories.

Wildfire Photo Galleries

- See images from the most destructive wildfire (Fourmile Fire) and largest wildfire (Hayman Fire) in Colorado history.