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Spring Fire to see additional firefighters Monday

Posted at 7:45 AM, Jul 02, 2018
and last updated 2018-07-02 09:45:58-04
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The type 2 Rocky Mountain incident management team is assuming command of the northern end of the fire Monday morning.
Fire bosses say they expect an additional 700 firefighters in the next few days. That’s in addition to the 480 assigned firefighters and support personnel currently battling the blaze. 

Currently there are four air tankers and nine helicopters battling the flames. If you’re wondering why the supertanker isn’t helping out, it’s currently being used to fight fires in the Sacramento, California area. Incident command is working to get the supertanker back in Colorado.  

593 homes have been evacuated in Costilla County, and 1,483 homes have been evacuated in Huerfano County.

Mandatory evacuations are in place Trinchera, this is for the area north and east of Trinchera Ranch Road, and south of Highway 160 in the Ft. Garland area. Evacuees are told to go to the Blanca/Ft. Garland Community Center, as power was shut off in that area. 

Firefighters  are focusing on advanced structure protection in Cuchara. Crews are working to create defensible space around the homes that are threatened. 

Officials say a disaster assistance center for those needing recovery assistance is being opened Monday at the Centennial School in San Luis, Colorado.

 Officials say 52-year old Jesper Joergensen, the man who allegedly started the fire, did not start the fire intentionally. They did not elaborate on exactly what Joergensen was burning when the fire started. He’s currently being held on an immigration violations by ICE.

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Official Twitter account for firefighting effort – @SpringFire2018