Fire in Custer County grows to 80 acres

A lightning caused wildfire continues to burn in a steep, inaccessible area of Custer County in the San Isabel National Forest -San Carlos Ranger District.

No mandatory evacuations have been ordered at this time.

Custer County Sheriff’s office conducted personal contacts and several reverse notification calls to notify area residents of the fire.

The fire has grown to 80 acres and is approximately 5 miles Northwest of Beulah, between Round Top Mountain and Scraggy Peaks.

The fire is 100 % on US Forest Service San Carlos Ranger District land at this time and is burning in Ponderosa Pine and Oak Brush and mixed conifers.

There are 87 firefighters working on the fire, including 4 Single Engine Air Tankers, three helicopters, two Type 2 hand crews, USFS engines, Beulah Volunteer Fire Department and other Pueblo and Custer County resources.

The current planned actions are to continue with aggressive retardant drops from the 4 Single Engine Air Tankers and water drops from the helicopters.

Firefighters have begun hand line construction as Escape Routes and Safety Zones have been established.

Additional Hot Shot crews are expected.

A second fire was detected approximately 4 miles north of the Ditch Creek Fire late Wednesday afternoon.

The Hardscrabble Fire is being staffed by Smokejumpers brought in from Grand Junction.

We will continue to monitor the fires and bring you the latest information on Newschannel 13 and KRDO.com.