Grass fire forces schools, residents to evacuate in Pueblo County
PUEBLO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- A grass fire burning on Old San Isabel Road is forcing schools and residents to evacuate in Pueblo County on Monday.
Watch an update on the fire below from Rye Fire Chief Steven Bennett.
4:55 p.m., all evacuation orders have been lifted and the fire is 85% contained.
4:09 p.m., the evacuation order for the Mount Baldy subdivision and Short Cut Road has been lifted. Table Mountain is still under evacuation.
3:17 p.m., following an update from the Rye Fire Chief, the fire is 135 acres, 60% contained and, one "barn-like" structure has been lost.
2:44 p.m., According to the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office, the size of the Old San Isabel fire has been adjusted to 128 acres. A combination of grass, trees, and brush is burning. There are a little more than 40 firefighters from 8 agencies working the fire.
1:51 p.m. The fire is approximately 45% contained, according to the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office.
1:24 p.m., the Rye Fire Chief confirmed to KRDO that the fire is 240 acres. The cause is still under investigation and there is no containment percentage yet.
At 1:11 p.m., the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office reported that the Old San Isabel Fire is estimated to be just over 200 acres. Eight agencies continue to work on the brush fire.
At 12:36 p.m., Pueblo County Sheriff's Office ordered residents to evacuate the Mount Baldy subdivision in Rye due to the fire. The sheriff's office stated that the Red Cross has set up a reception center for evacuees at the Colorado City Recreation Center located at 5000 Cuerno Verde Blvd.
At 12:12 p.m., students and staff from Rye High School and Rye Elementary School were evacuated.
According to District 70, students and staff from those institutions are being sent to Craver Middle School where parents can pick up their students with "proper identification."
The district stated it's coordinating with First Student to help students who are bussed.
At 11:39 a.m., several agencies responded to a grass fire near Rye, according to the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office.
The sheriff's office said smoke is visible from Pueblo and Pueblo West.
JUST NOW: Multiple fire agencies responding to grass fire near Rye. Smoke is visible from Pueblo/Pueblo West areas. Updates will be posted as further information is available.
— PuebloCounty Sheriff (@PuebloCountySO) November 28, 2022
Earlier Monday, the sheriff's office tweeted that the county is under a Red Flag Warning due to gusty winds, low humidity, and warm temperatures.
Fire danger will be high today due to gusty winds, low humidity and warm temperatures. Red Flag warning has been issued for Pueblo County. Absolutely no burning!! pic.twitter.com/oS9uDoYJcU
— PuebloCounty Sheriff (@PuebloCountySO) November 28, 2022
