Pine Gulch Fire Burning Near Grand Junction Is Now 2nd Largest Fire In Colorado History
MESA COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4) - The Pine Gulch Fire continues to burn on the western slope, north of Grand Junction, and is steadily approaching state history. A Wednesday update on acres burned now puts it second only behind the Hayman Fire on the list of largest in Colorado history.
Currently, the fire has burned 125,108 acres, according to the Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center. For reference, the Hayman Fire burned 137,760 acres in 2002. The Spring Creek Fire, which was second on the list, burned 108,045 acres in southern Colorado in 2018.
New pre-evacuation orders were given Tuesday night to residents near County Road 205, Kimball Mountain Road and CR 256 in between Kimball Mountain road and Browns Point.
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Firefighters have only 7% of the fire contained. It was sparked by lightning on July 31st and could burn for weeks. Colorado Governor Jared Polis announced last week that Colorado is currently the top priority in the nation for firefighting.
