#EastPeakFire in Huerfano County

Sunday 06/23/13

5:00 PM:

The East Peak Fire burning in Huerfano County is now 50% contained after firefighters conducted a successful burnout operation yesterday. Acreage is now at 13,388.

8 PM:

The East Peak Fire is at 12,966 acres, with 15% containment. Silver Spurs, River Ridge, and Blackhawk subdivisions--- with the exception of a section of Blackhawk on the west side of CR 312--- are able to go home, but should remain alert and ready. ID is required to re-enter. Officials say today's burnout operation was successful. It helped reinforce lines on the southern boundary of the fire.

5:30 PM:

From Inciweb:

A Message From Huerfano County Sheriff Bruce Newmann

The Huerfano County Sheriff's Department will start letting residents back into the Silver Spur Subdivision, Blackhawk Subdivision, and Riverridge Subdivision. Any homes south of these locations will also be allowed to return home. These homes and subdivisions are still on an evacuation notice and if notified to leave they will have 10 minutes to get out. People with breathing problems are advised not to return home because of smoke.

If you have not signed up for Code Red Evacuation Notice please do so at Huerfano.us, to Code Red on screen and follow the directions, make sure you look at the map and place yourself in the right calling area. Huajatolla is still under a mandatory evacuation.

Road blocks will be set up at County Road 340 (Bear Creek) and County Road 358 (Mesa Road) at County Road 330 (Ideal Road) and County Road 310 (Shultz Canyon) at County Road 312 above the Blackhawk entrance, and County Road 360 (Huajatolla Road) and County Road 362.

Blackhawk on the west of County Road 312 will not be allowed back in.


AM:

The East Peak Fire in Huerfano County has burned 12,442 acres, and is now 10% contained. Officials have determined it was caused by lightening. A community meeting is scheduled for tonight, Sunday, June 23 at 7:00 at the Walsenburg Community Center. Evacuation and pre-evacuation notices remain in place.

From Inciweb: An estimated 300 properties are under an evacuation notice within Huerfano County east of the town of La Veta to I-25, and south to the county line. Pre-evacuation remains in effect for the City of Walsenburg. In Las Animas County there are pre-evacuation orders for Mauracio Canyon and Upper and Lower Trujillo Creek.

Fire managers are conducting a burnout operation to help remove fuels on the southern boundary.



Saturday 06/22/13

The East Peak Fire is now estimated to be 11,365 acres with no containment. Management of the fire transitioned to a Type II team Friday evening, and the Colorado National Guard is assisting with law enforcement, road closures, and suppression efforts. The fire is burning on private land, as well as US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management land. The Spanish Peaks area is closed to the public, and evacuations remain in place.

Mandatory evacuation regions are east of LaVeta to I-25, South of Walsenburg to the the Las Animas County line. The following county roads are included: 310, 310.2, 312, 313, 314, 315, 315.1, 316, 317, 317.1, 320, 331, 332, 340, 340.1, 344, 345, 360, 360.1, 363. Black Hawk Ranch Subdivision, Silver Spurs Subdivision and surrounding areas are also under mandatory evacuations.

Pre-Evacuations are in effect from south of the town of Aguilar to the city limits of Trinidad and east to I-25. The towns of Walsenburg and La Veta are also under pre-evacuation status.



Friday's Updates, 06/21/13

11:30 AM

There is a community meeting to be held at the Walsenburg Community Center 928 Russell Ave. at 8:00 p.m.


The East Peak Fire in Huerfano County is about 9,000 acres with 0% containment as of late last night. Officials say the fire has been challenging due to limited resources, wind, and a red flag status.

Mandatory evacuations regions are east of LaVeta to I-25, South of Walsenburg to the the Las Animas County line. The following county roads are included: 310, 310.2, 312, 313, 314, 315, 315.1, 316, 317, 317.1, 320, 331, 332, 340, 340.1, 344, 345, 360, 360.1, 363. Black Hawk Ranch Subdivision, Silver Spurs Subdivision and surrounding areas are also under mandatory evacuations.

Pre-Evacuations are in effect from south of the town of Aguilar to the city limits of Trinidad and east to I-25. The town of Walsenburg is also under pre-evacuation status.

The LaVeta Fairgrounds are currently accepting large and small animal evacuees.