UPDATE: Fire Near Fowler Now 150 Acres

A fire near Fowler burned at least 150 acres Sunday afternoon. As of early Sunday evening, it is 30% contained.

According to a Twitter feed maintained by La Junta Fire Chief Aaron Eveatt, the fire started off Nepesta Road, west of Fowler near the Pueblo-Otero county line. The fire chief also indicated that several reported fires including one near Boone were related to this blaze near the Arkansas River.

Evacuations were ordered for a handful of homes on Nepesta Road but KRDO Newschannel 13’s Jaclyn Rostie said enough progress has been made on the fire that those orders were cancelled.

Twenty additional crews are en route to help put out hot spots and keep the fire from jumping Highway 96.

Both Highways 96 and 50 were closed briefly due to the fire but they are reportedly open again.

A BNSF train passing through the area reportedly started the fire.