CUSTER COUNTY, Colo. (KOAA) — Emergency fire crews in Custer County have mostly contained a fire on CR 182 off Verdemont, northwest of Westcliffe.
Officials say that the fire was caused by an Aspen tree falling onto a power line. The power lines have automatic settings to try to reconnect power, which led to the fire starting.
- Hear why one Custer County community member felt the fire was inevitable below:
According to CCSO, the automatic reconnect feature on the power lines will be disabled for the remainder of the fire season.
In the latest update from Thursday evening, the fire has shrunk from 80 acres to 65 acres, with 95% containment.
Fire crews will continue to monitor the fire overnight, but will resume working on Friday morning.
On Thursday morning, the fire was 75% contained, but had grown to 80 acres. Crews worked around the clock to further contain the fire before winds picked up in the afternoon.
There is expected to be worse fire danger on Saturday.
The fire was 10% contained on Wednesday night, according to the Custer County Sheriff's Office, and was estimated at 60 to 80 acres. The sheriff's office originally stated that there was 80% containment; this was incorrect and was updated to 10%.
EVACUATION INFORMATION
ALL EVACUATION ORDERS HAVE BEEN LIFTED
Pines Ranch and Spread Eagle neighborhoods will be open to residents at noon on Thursday, but are asked to stay in the "ready" stage for evacuation.
15 homes in the area remain under mandatory evacuation, and deputies are assisting to escort residents to gather supplies and remove their pets.
Previous Mandatory Evacuations (South of the fire):
• County Road 170
• County Road 179
• Chalice Dr
• Chalice Rd
Previous Pre-Evacuation / Standby (North of the fire):
• Verdemont residences
• County Road 182
The blaze prompted a multi-agency response, with fire crews from as far as Salida assisting, and has been elevated to a Type 4 incident. The sheriff's office says investigators with the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) and the United States Forest Service (USFS) are working to determine the cause of the fire.
The Colorado DFPC had received a request for a Multi-Mission Aircraft (MMA). Following that request, the division has four aircraft on scene on Wednesday.
The CCSO says that an evacuation notice has been sent to homes within two miles of the fire via Everbridge.
All homes within the evacuation zone were successfully evacuated.
Sheriff's deputies are going house to house to check for anyone in the area, but say many of the homes are second vacation homes.
As of 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, the fire had grown to approximately 59 acres, up from the original 20-acre estimate.
CCSO says that they will know more after the MMA flight.
The Saddle Club is available to house evacuated livestock, and Lange Hall is the current shelter for evacuated families.
Officials say that there is an ongoing investigation into the fire, and the cause is currently unknown.
This is an ongoing situation, and we will continue to release information as it becomes available.
Custer, El Paso, Fremont, and Teller Counties use Everbridge to reach community members during an emergency. To sign up in Custer and Fremont Counties, click here. To sign up in El Paso and Teller Counties, click here.
The 911 authority says that a new partnership with the ReachWell app will allow Peak Alerts to integrate seamlessly and allow for 130 different language translations. Reachwell does not require users to make an additional account or personal information to receive the alerts.
Once you have downloaded the ReachWell app follow these steps to get Peak Alerts through the App:
1. Download the ReachWell App wherever you download apps or visit rwell.us/ElPasoCO and accept push notifications
2. Select Preferred Language
3. Add Peak Alerts
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