The latest massive wildfire in Colorado, dubbed the Spring Fire, reached over 38,000 acres Sunday afternoon, Rocky Mountain Incident Management fire officials confirmed. Fueled by high temperatures, strong winds and low humidity, the spreading fire was still zero percent contained. Burning five miles east of Fort Garland, Colorado, the fire started Thursday. Officials said the cause was under investigation but that it was believed to have been started by human activity. One person was arrested for arson, KXRM reported. Some 275 fire personnel were on scene working toward containment. Mandatory evacuation orders were in place for communities near the fire, including Forbes Park, Wagon Creek Estates, Tres Valles, Paradise Acres, Raspberry Mountain, Pine Haven and the Cuchara Valley. Under pre-evacuation orders were La Veta, Navajo Ranch subdivision, parts of Pinon Hills and Majors Ranch, and areas east and north of Trichera Ranch Road and south of Highway 160, according to KXRM. Highway 160 and Highway 12 were both closed. At least two evacuation centers were set up, including one at the Huerfano Community Center and one at the Blanca Fort Garland Community Center. Evacuation centers for animals were open at the Las Animas County Fairgrounds and the 4H barn in La Veta. Fire officials said their main priority was protecting homes at risk from the flames. It was unclear whether any had been destroyed or damaged, but the sheriff's office said it would begin to identify lost structures over the next several days. Forecasts predicted continued hot, dry and windy conditions Saturday–prime conditions for a spreading wildfire. At least 11 other wildfires were burning in Colorado this week, aided by weather conditions. Another new wildfire, in Teller County, was reported Friday afternoon, prompting evacuations and pre-evacuations in the Florissant area.<doc-sep>TAOS, New Mexico (Reuters) - A man was arrested on Saturday on charges of starting a forest fire in Colorado that has destroyed structures and forced hundreds to evacuate their homes in one of dozens of wildfires raging across the drought-hit U.S. southwest. Slideshow ( 2 images ) Jesper Joergensen, 52, was taken into custody for suspected arson that started the Springs Fire, the most active of around 10 blazes in Colorado, the state hardest hit by fires, according to Costilla County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page. Joergensen is not a U.S. citizen and will be handed over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement once he has faced arson charges, said a Costilla County detention officer. The officer could not immediately say what nationality Joergensen held. The fire has scorched over 38,000 acres (15,378 hectares) between the towns of Fort Garland and La Veta in southern Colorado, forcing more mandatory evacuations of homes and ranches on Saturday in a mountainous area of public and private land. The fire continued to grow, fueled by temperatures in the mid 80s Fahrenheit (27 Celsius) and had zero percent containment as of Saturday afternoon. Air tankers and helicopters dropped fire retardant and water on the blaze. Authorities asked evacuated residents not to fly drones to check on their properties as the devices posed a danger to aircraft and would force them to be grounded. An unknown number of structures were consumed by the fire, said Bethany Urban, a public information officer. No injuries have been reported. Gusty winds, single-digit humidity and hot temperatures have fueled the fires and could ignite new blazes in the U.S. West, the National Weather Service said in several warnings. The largest wildfire in Colorado, the 416 Fire, has charred almost 47,000 acres about 13 miles (21 km) north of Durango in the southwest corner of the state, and is 37 percent contained, said public information officer Brandalyn Vonk. About 10 smaller wildfires were burning in New Mexico and three in Arizona, with much of the two states suffering extreme or exceptional drought conditions. All but the northeastern corner of Colorado is experiencing moderate to exceptional drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.<doc-sep>UPDATE: July 4, 2018, 2 p.m. EDT—The Spring Creek fire continued to grow Tuesday, expanding to 94,093 acres, The Denver Post reported. The week-old fire, which remains 5 percent contained, has destroyed at least 104 homes. According to KKTV, pre-evacuation orders have been issued in Las Animas County. Pre-evacuation orders are in place for south of the Huerfano/Las Animas county line south to County Road 42, east to CR 21.7 and west to Highway 12, the Huerfano County Emergency Management said. The pre-evacuation order also includes the Cuchara Pass Ranches, Timber Creek Ranch, Timber Ridge at Cordova Pass and Spanish Peak Ranch Estates. Original story: Colorado fire officials continue to battle several large wildfires, including the 416 fire outside of Durango and the rapidly growing Spring Creek fire near Fort Garland. On Saturday, the Costilla County Sheriff's Office announced that a 52-year-old Danish man had been arrested on arson charges for starting the Spring Creek fire. 416 Fire The 416 fire has been raging in the western part of Colorado since June 1. Since then, the fire at San Juan National Forest has expanded to 49,301 acres and remains at 37 percent containment. As of Monday, 363 fire personnel were working to contain the fire. According to The Durango Herald, efforts to contain the 416 fire shifted to the northeast perimeter in order to enhance fire lines guarding Purgatory Resort. "We completed firing operations along the south end, and that's a critical piece of the puzzle for us," Don Ferguson, a public information officer for the fire, told the newspaper. On Sunday, Incident Commander Joe Reinarz said in a statement that cooler weather has slowed the fire's progress in the north and northwest, while allowing firefighters to tackle the south and southwest portion along Forest Road 171. However, a change of wind direction will likely result in an increase in smoke to the area along the Highway 550 corridor. Spring Creek Fire The Spring Creek fire first ignited on June 27, around 9 miles northeast of Fort Garland, Colorado. It has quickly expanded to become the largest wildfire currently burning in the state. As of Monday, the Spring Creek fire measured 56,820 acres and was only 5 percent contained. Officials announced that 550 fire crew were working to contain the human-caused fire. The Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team announced that hundreds of residents have been evacuated and an undetermined number of homes have been burned, The Denver Post reported. Residents east of Trinchera Ranch Road and south of Highway 160 in Fort Garland are under a mandatory evacuation, the Costilla County Sheriff's Office said. According to The Denver Post, the Blanca Fort Garland Community Center has been designated a shelter. Navajo Ranch residents living along County Road 350 and south of Highway 160 are also being asked to evacuate, according to the Huerfano Emergency Dispatch. The Costilla County Sheriff's Office said Saturday that 52-year-old Jesper Joergensen was arrested on arson charges in connection to the Spring Creek fire. Joergensen, who is Danish and not a U.S. citizen, did not intentionally start the devastating fire, police told residents during a meeting Sunday. Weston Pass Fire The Weston Pass fire was ignited on June 28 by a lightning strike about 9 miles southwest of Fairplay, Colorado. On Monday, officials measured the fire at 6,417 acres. The fire, which is 10 percent contained, is expected to be fully contained by July 29. According to KDVR, Park County officials were forced to shut down a large portion of Highway 285 on Saturday. The highway was closed in both directions between FairPlay and Antero Junction. Over 300 fire crew are working to contain the fire. Officials expect the fire to grow due to winds out of the west, with gusts reaching 25 mph. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said smoke from the fire is causing issues for residents of Fairplay and Hartsel. In a statement, officials urged residents to relocate if smoke was present indoors and was making them sick. "If visibility is less than 5 miles in smoke in your neighborhood, smoke has reached levels that are unhealthy," the statement said. High Chateau Fire Another fire ignited 7 miles northwest of Cripple Creek, Colorado, on June 29. Officials said the High Chateau fire has spread to 1,328 acres and remains at 0 percent containment. According to The Denver Post, more than 1,000 homes have been evacuated or are under pre-evacuation orders due to the fire. Burro Fire The Burro fire, which has been burning since June 8, reached 4,415 acres and is 40 percent contained. Only 27 fire crew are assigned to contain the fire. Officials said the northwest side of the fire is active again and that growth on the southern side of Bear Creek is moving slowly down drainage toward Highway 145. Badger Creek Fire The Badger Creek fire in the northern part of Colorado has reached 21,190 acres and is 80 percent contained. Some 150 fire crew continue to work to fully contain the fire. Authorities announced that Highway 230 and Highway 10 have been reopened to all traffic. However, the Albany County Emergency Management issued a pre-evacuation notice for residents along Highway 10, north of New Jelm to Woods Landing, and along Highway 230 from Woods Landing to the Fox Creek Road turnoff, as well as north along Fox Creek Road to Forest Road 311A.<doc-sep>
COSTILLA COUNTY, Colo. -- A wildfire in Colorado exploded from 4,000 acres Thursday to nearly 24,000 acres overnight in Costilla County. The Spring Fire was burning out of control on Friday, CBS Denver reports. Some structures were burned by the wildfire but authorities haven't said whether they were homes, outbuildings or businesses. The fire broke out five miles east of Fort Garland on Wednesday evening and has since entered Huerfano County. It was moving east toward Highway 160 and the community of La Veta. On Thursday, officials said 80 to 100 firefighters were battling the blaze, along with fixed-wing aircraft dropping fire retardant and helicopters making water drops. At one point, fire crews were pulled out of the area due to the danger of advancing flames. Dry conditions, rough terrain and strong winds gave the fire the upper hand. Smoke looms near La Veta Pass in Costillo County in southern Colorado, from one of several wildfires burning in Colorado and Utah on June 28, 2018. Eric Flores / AP South Metro Fire Rescue crews arrived Friday to help fight the blaze. They're just one of the many departments across the state helping to try to contain the massive fire. About 2,500 people were evacuated in Forbes Park. Shelters for evacuees were set up at the Blanca-Fort Garland Community Center and the Huerfano Community Center in Walsenburg. Four people sought shelter at the Blanca center while 14 others stayed in Walsenburg, the Red Cross said in a statement. Another day of red flag conditions were forecast for Friday. Temperatures were expected to be in the mid to high 80s with a humidity of 6-10 percent.