Fire Crews Make Progress On Junkins Fire
WESTCLIFFE, Colo. (CBS4) - Fire crews made progress on the Junkins Fire Wednesday evening. The fire was three percent contained and crews expected more containment on Thursday.
The fire, sparked by a downed power line, has burned 16,832 acres since it started Monday about 11 miles east of Westcliffe in Southern Colorado.
There was zero containment on the fire by Wednesday afternoon. There were 260 personnel fighting the fire along with seven hand crews, 15 engines, four water tenders, four single-engine tankers, four heavy air tankers, four helicopter and one air attack plane.
PHOTO GALLERY: Junkins Fire
On Tuesday afternoon authorities confirmed at least five homes and more outbuildings have been destroyed by the fire.
The fire continues to burn in mixed conifer, aspen and grass.
A Type 1 management team from the Great Basin took control of the fire at 6 a.m.
Additional Information from the U.S. Forest Service:
A Closure Order is now in effect on the San Carlos Ranger District in the area of the fire. The closed area encompasses all National Forest lands south and east of State Hwy 96, north of the "12 mile road" (Hwy 78), and north and west of the Ophir Gardner Roads (Forest Roads 360 and 634).
Current Road Closures are:
- Hwy 96 from McKenzie Junction to County Road 390, Hwy 165 & 96 (McKenzie Junction) to Hwy 78, county roads 358, 386, 387, 388, 389, and Hwy 165 from McKenzie Junction to Hwy 78.
Current evacuation orders are as follows: - Eagle Springs Ranch Subdivisions and homes along Greenwood Rd (CR 389) and Babcock Hole (CR 388)
Power Service Outages:
- Junkins Park area
- Wetmore area
- Hwy 165, south of McKenzie Junction
- North Creek
Evacuation Sites:
- Westcliffe – Valley Bible Fellowship, 116 Hermit Ln, Silver Cliff
- Florence – Florence Christian Church
- Large and small animals – Custer County Fairgrounds and Draper Ranch
- Large animals – Horse Arena at Colorado State Fair Grounds, Gate 6
- Small animals – Pueblo Animal Services, 4600 Eagle Ridge Pl. Pueblo
Wildfire Resources
- Visit CBSDenver.com's Living With Wildfire section.
Wildfire Photo Galleries
- See images from the most destructive wildfires (Black Forest, Waldo Canyon, High Park and Fourmile) and largest wildfire (Hayman) in Colorado history.
