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Heat, Wind Complicate Lime Gulch Firefight

CONIFER, Colo. (CBS4) - The evacuation order remains in effect in the Lime Gulch Fire burning in Jefferson County, and officials say the weather on Friday isn't helping in their efforts to contain the blaze.

Lime Gulch Fire
Lime Gulch Fire (credit: CBS)

After an infrared mapping flight was made overnight, officials say the fire is at 498 acres. The containment was described as being at 5 percent.

The Lime Gulch Fire is located in the Buffalo Creek area northeast of the town of Pine and south of Conifer.

No structures are currently in the path of the fire, which started from lightning on Tuesday and flared up intensely on Wednesday.

Evacuations are in place for a 3 mile radius from Cathedral Spires. Pre-evacuation orders are also in place for the Spring Creek Ranch subdivision and for residents in a one mile radius of the intersection of South Pleasant Park Road and Kuehster Road.

PHOTO GALLERY: Lime Gulch Fire

Officials opened up a hotline for residents to call if they have questions or concerns about the fire. The fire information line is (720) 583-4733.

There are several closures in place:

- Waterton Canyon is closed to recreation
- Intersection of HWY 285 and Foxton Road is only accessible to local residents
- Intersection of Foxton Road and Running Deer is closed
- Intersection of South Platte River and Southwest Platte River ("Two Forks") is closed
- Intersection of HWY 126 and Buffalo Creek is closed
- In Douglas County, the intersection of HWY 67 and South Platte River is only accessible to local residents and Nighthawk is closed

Red Flag Warnings continue for the southern, western, and central Colorado all day long. Relative humidity is near 3 percent in these areas on Friday, that means almost no water vapor is in the lower atmosphere, CBS4's Justin McHeffey reported.

"On top of this we'll still have winds gusting around 35 mph, so the fire danger continues far and wide," McHeffey said. "Front Range winds are expected to relax for the next several days. That's better news for the Lime Gulch Fire but a soaking rain would really be a great change."

Wildfire Resources

- Visit CBSDenver.com's Wildfire Resources section.

- Read recent Wildfire stories.

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.

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