UPDATE: Fort Lyon River Fire 50% contained; Bent’s Fort Fire up to 25% contained
OTERO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- At one point Tuesday, fire crews were battling five wildfires along the border between Bent County and Otero County.
The two larger wildfires, the Bent's Fort Fire in Otero County, and the Fort Lyon River Fire east of Las Animas have claimed two homes.
As of 3 p.m. Wednesday, officials reported the Fort Lyon River Fire has burned 2,909 acres and is now 50% contained. The fire burned two homes Tuesday, one which was occupied, the other which was not. The occupied home was safely evacuated.
A Colorado State Patrol incident commander reports the Bent's Fort Fire is 1,800 acres in size and 25% contained. The fire has burned some outbuildings, but still no homes. The fire first broke out around 9 a.m. Tuesday and was considered contained, but then flared up again around 2 p.m.
The Bent's Fort Fire is located on heavy agricultural land, burning mostly grass, fields, and trees. The Old Fort was not impacted by the fire.
15 agencies are now involved in the effort to contain the two remaining fires after three smaller ones were put out.
Colorado State Patrol Captain Tonya Billinger said much of the population in the Fort Lyon area remain on pre-evacuation status due to the shifting winds Tuesday evening.
A community center in Las Animas was initially offering shelter to evacuees. That shelter closed at 1 a.m. Wednesday, when people were cleared to go home.
Billinger estimated that 125 people utilized the shelter.
The Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control is taking over command of both the Fort Lyon Fire and the Bent's Fort Fire.
Earlier reporting:
According to the Otero County Sheriff's Office, a brush fire near the Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site reignited from earlier in the day.
The Otero County Sheriff's Office said multiple agencies were responding. The Pueblo Fire Department confirmed with KRDO that they were headed to the Otero County fire.
The Otero Office of Emergency Management told KRDO they responded to the fire east of Bent's Fort on Highway 194. Otero OEM says the fire is roughly 200 to 300 acres in size and nine different agencies are working on it.
There are pre-evacuations within five miles east of the fire, north and south of the river.
The sheriff's office reported on the fire earlier Tuesday around 12 p.m.
Colorado News, Your Way confirmed with KRDO that there's another fire east of Las Animas near Fort Lyons. They also confirmed the fire west of Las Animas was burning near the jail and a golf course.
A resident in the area shared a video of the second fire burning in that area.
The Bent County Fair Board sent a request to the Bent County Commissioners to approve being able to house livestock of people who are evacuating the fire.
Just before 6 p.m., commissioners approved the request. People will need to contact the Bent County Extension Agent prior to arriving. They can be reached at 719-989-8392.
Westbound Highway 50 between mile point 428 and mile point 398 is closed due to the fire activity in the area.
#US50 westbound: Road closed due to fire activity between Amity Canal and County Road F5. https://t.co/V1pLAsevNq
— Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) (@ColoradoDOT) April 12, 2022
Eastbound Highway 50 was briefly closed, however, CDOT reopened the lanes just after 5 a.m.
#US50 eastbound: Roadway reopened to traffic between County Road F5 and Amity Canal. https://t.co/gTqI0qLWEC
— Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) (@ColoradoDOT) April 12, 2022
A KRDO crew is at the scene of the fire near Bent's Fort.
This is a developing story.
