More than a Dozen Wildfires Rage throughout Colorado

More than a dozen fires continued to rage throughout Colorado on Saturday morning, including one that still threatens to wipe out the tiny town of South Fork in the southwest part of the state.

The West Fork complex, a combination of three wildfires, has consumed nearly 42,000 acres and is not contained, according to the Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center. The town, in Rio Grande County with a population of about 600, was evacuated Friday. Though officials were hopeful that shifting winds and firefighters’ efforts would save the town, dry conditions and hot temperatures Saturday mean the danger is not over. Authorities estimate the cost of fighting that blaze at about $1.4 million.

Other wildfires also are burning in

A helicopter goes in to make a water drop on the Lime Gulch Fire as huge flames burn stands of trees on U.S. Forest Service land off of Foxton Road near Conifer, Colo., on June 20, 2013. (Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post)

other parts of the state.

In southern Colorado, the East Peak fire, 10 miles southwest of Walsenburg, burned more than 9,100 acres with no containment. That blaze has destroyed 14 structures, including at least nine homes and the Boy Scout ranch.

Closer to Denver, firefighters were working to contain the Lime Gulch fire in Jefferson County. Spokesman Chris Barth said firefighters used infrared technology to scope out hot spots Friday night, and while the blaze has torched 511 acres, it is now 15 percent contained.

“We expect that will grow,” he said.

Crews would work on mop-up efforts Saturday. Officials said that blaze was caused by lightning.

In light of the fires, the state Department of Public Heath and Environment issued a 24-hour wildfire smoke health advisory for a swath of south-central Colorado, urging residents to stay indoors if smoke is thick. In particular danger were the very young, the elderly and those suffering heart and lung diseases.

“If visibility is less than 5 miles in smoke in your neighborhood, smoke has reached levels that are unhealthy,” the advisory said.

Sadie Gurman: 303-954-1661,sgurman@denverpost.comortwitter.com/sgurman

Read more:Crews battle more than a dozen Colorado fires over dry weekend – The Denver Posthttps://www.denverpost.com/coloradowildfires2013/ci_23518218/crews-battle-more-than-dozen-colorado-fires-dry-weekend#ixzz2WyKkLSLo
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