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Black Bridge Fire now 80 percent contained

Posted at 7:49 AM, Apr 08, 2019
and last updated 2019-04-08 19:11:28-04

 

LAS ANIMAS – The Hasty/McClave Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Service said containment has increased on the Black Bridge Fire, which is burning east of Las Animas.

Authorities now estimate the fire is 80 percent contained and has burned an estimated 1,600 acres as of Sunday night. So far, no injuries have been reported and no structures have been lost.

The Las Animas Fire Department will now monitor the fire, which started Thursday night and forced seven homes to evacuate. Those evacuations were lifted Saturday afternoon.

Firefighters said the fire will continue to burn inside the fire lines.

The fire has primarily burned in the riverbeds around the Purgatoire and Arkansas Rivers. Firefighters have made significant progress after helicopters joined the firefighting effort Friday night.

Crews from Las Animas, La Junta, Hasty, McClave, Cheraw, and Kiowa Counties have all assisted in the firefighting effort.