Westcliffe, CO. Historically dry temperatures and a stiff wind allowed a fire in the Sangre de Cristos Mountains to quickly grow on March 18 at 2:30 p.m. However, a quick response by local fire crews prevented the loss of any structure and no injuries are currently reported.
The Custer County Sheriff’s Office announced around midnight that the fire was 80% contained.
Crews are expected to mop up the fire today and isolate the remaining hotspots in the dense forest that borders the San Isabel National Forest. The density of the forest in this part of the Sangre de Cristos is extreme, and it could take days of constant work and monitoring to fully bring all the hotspots under control.
There is still a mandatory evacuation for a 2-mile area around the fire.
An update by emergency officials is expected at 10 a.m.
Jordan Hedberg
