PUEBLO, Colorado — An evacuation order has been lifted for those living in the Belmont neighborhood after a fast-moving wildfire broke out Sunday afternoon.
The fire started around 3 p.m. Sunday in a grassy area just east of Target on Dillon Drive. The Pueblo Fire Department reported on Twitter a short time later that residents in the 1800-2100 block of Mohawk Rd. should evacuate immediately.
Firefighters quickly got the flames under control and lifted the evacuation order at 5:45 p.m.
Those that were evacuated are grateful for the fire department's quick response. "I am so blessed, God has watched over us, that we can go back home, so I'm very blessed for that," said Stacy Bitts, who lives on Mohawk.
The Pueblo Fire Department said with winds blowing around 30 miles per hour, and some gusts even getting up to 50 miles per hour, their response time was critical. "We were able to get it stopped today, had we not been as quick on scene, I think we could have seen a different situation on our hands entirely," said Fire Captain Woody Percival.
Video posted to Twitter by the Pueblo Police Department shows how close the fire was to nearby structures.
Great job Pueblo Fire Department! Fire was very close to structures. pic.twitter.com/GhKbLDJEIy
— Pueblo Police Dept (@PuebloPolice1) October 20, 2019
Early reports said that a home was on fire in that neighborhood, but the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office says a deck is on fire, and there is no confirmed structure fire.
Per PFD PIO, the fire on Mohawk Rd is a deck fire. There NO confirmed structures on fire. The fire is 30 percent contained. #pueblofire
— PuebloCounty Sheriff (@PuebloCountySO) October 20, 2019
Please safety and evacuate the 1800-2100 block of Mohawk Rd in Pueblo immediately. A wildfire is growing exponentially with the wind conditions and a home is confirmed to be on fire. #pueblofire
— Pueblo Fire Dept (@PFDPIO) October 20, 2019
