Fire in Bent County now 90 percent contained, 1,000+ acres burned
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.(KRDO)-The Boggsville fire is now 90 percent contained after crews spent the weekend fighting flames and fire officials are saying that the containment of the fire has been a community effort.
"One of the service stations was open till late hours working on outside for one of the fire departments. And the efforts right now are pretty much some ground crews. They're going out and using hand tools to stir up the dead spots, maybe cut down a tree here and there," said Rodney Coulter, First Captain with the Las Animas Bent County Fire Protection District.
Coulter said the fire has now burned 1080 acres.
"The north side is being held by the river still. And so we've got a good fire line around the rest of it," Coulter said.
Coulter said crews remain out on the scene and are covering the fire around the clock. He said that more than 100 firefighters from different departments were working the fire. But Coulter says it's not just the firefighters who have been an essential part of this. He also gives a lot of credit to the residents for helping in any way they can.
"The community has been amazing. We've had everything from cookies to burgers and Dairy Queen pizzas, Gatorade, Chapstick, Kleenex is just a huge support from the community," said Coulter.
As of now, no livestock or structures have been damaged, and no residents or firefighters have been injured.
Coulter said a couple of school gyms have recently opened their doors to help those firefighters who have come in from neighbouring states, allowing them to spend the night there during their stay.
