Burning Tree Fire 100% Contained
FRANKTOWN, Colo. (CBS4)- Firefighters have been fighting a fire burning east of Franktown. All 8,500 people evacuated in the area have been allowed to return home and the fire is 100 percent contained. The fire is called the Burning Tree Fire.
More than 1,600 acres have burned. Smoke could be seen billowing from the area 35 miles away, including downtown Denver. The fire started burning Thursday afternoon.
Burning Tree Fire Photo Gallery
All evacuations have been lifted. Livestock is being allowed to return as well. Fire Department personnel are still on scene and continue mop up and monitoring hot spots.
At one point, 8,500 people were ordered to evacuated the fire.
LINK: Douglas County Website.
Most of the volunteer firefighters with Franktown Fire fought the fire along with crews from Douglas County, South Metro Fire, Littleton, Castle Rock, Larkspur, Colorado Springs, Parker and Elizabeth. Crews from the U.S. Forest Service also helped fight the fire. About 100 firefighters battled the blaze.
Watch the video below of a water drop from that helicopter that saved a home, barn and a horse.
Viewers watched live coverage of the fire on CBS4 and were concerned that the horse was trapped and couldn't get away from the flames.
The fire was burning in the Burning Tree neighborhood, near Franktown. In the area where the fire was burning, there were winds are blowing 20-25 mph, with gusts up to 30-35 mph.
The cause of the fire is not known. One helicopter is over the fire making water drops. No homes have been damaged.
LINK: Wildfire Resources
It was the second major wildfire sparked along the Front Range in less than a week. The Indian Gulch Fire burning west of Golden started Sunday and is burning in steep, rugged hills. It is 77 percent contained and has burned 1,700 acres. Read full story.