PITKIN COUNTY, Colo. — A wildfire has been reported in the area of Lake Christine near Basalt Tuesday evening. It was burning on the north side of Highway 82 about one mile north of Basalt in Pitkin County, according to reports.
The Colorado State Patrol said mandatory evacuations were underway for the Hillcrest and Silverado subdivisions in Basalt.
The Aspen Times reported Basalt police officers were going door-to-door in the Aspen Junction neighborhood telling people to evacuate as well. The neighborhood is along Original Road and Hillcrest Drive.
The newspaper also reported the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office said two people were cited for starting the fire on the shooting range near Basalt.
Pre-evacuation alerts went to residents in the area of the Wilds neighborhood, as well as Original Road, Pine Ridge and Sagewood.
It was named the Lake Christine Fire. Officials said the evacuation orders affected about 80 homes.
An evacuation center was opened Tuesday night at Basalt High School, 600 Southside Drive in Basalt. Small pets were welcome at the evacuation center.
New wildfire start – 1 mile north of Basalt, Colorado. First reported approx 1800 local time. #cowx #cofire pic.twitter.com/ev3UURTn6T
— Kyle Nelson (@WxKyleNelson) July 4, 2018
💨 Smoke is visible over the Hardscrabble/Red Table mountain ranges. New wildfire that is growing and putting up a lot of smoke in Basalt. Please don’t report smoke from this fire. #COwildfire
— Greater Eagle Fire (@gefpd) July 4, 2018
The fire was burning northwest of downtown Basalt on the eastern, undeveloped part of Basalt Mountain.