Number of homes burned in #JunkinsFire increases to 9

The Custer County Sheriff’s Office says the number of homes burned in the #JunkinsFire has increased to nine. The announcement came at a public meeting on Saturday.

The fire has burned 17,809 acres in Custer and Pueblo counties. It is 39 percent contained.

The majority of the evacuations had been lifted by Friday night, with the one exception being the North Creek area between the Red Mountain Youth Camp and the Pueblo/Custer County Line. That area was lifted on Saturday morning.

Investigators said Tuesday evening that they believe the fire started when high winds blew apart a metal building, causing pieces to knock over a power line onto a barbed wire fence. The impact created sparks which ultimately started the wildfire.

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