Denver (KDVR/AP) — Four different wildfires sparked across Colorado on Sunday. The Pinpoint Weather Team says fire danger will remain high in Colorado this week.
Here’s what we know about each of the wildfires on Monday:
Paws Fire, Pueblo
State and local firefighters by Monday afternoon had established a perimeter around a 20-acre grassland fire in Pueblo that briefly forced people to evacuate a neighborhood next to City Park, according to the Associated Press.
Pueblo Fire Capt. Woody Percival says about 30 personnel are working the edges of the fire, which erupted Sunday in a wooded area with heavy brush and quickly spread in high winds along the north bank of the Arkansas River. An evacuation order for the Aberdeen neighborhood in west Pueblo was rescinded late Sunday. Shifting winds that reached 40 mph on Sunday died down on Monday, but the region remained under a red flag warning that banned open burning. The cause of the fire was unknown.
Teller County fire
A fire started near Cripple Creek on Sunday after a campfire was left unattended. The Teller County Sheriff’s Office said 20 people were evacuated from the area during the fire. It burned a total of three acres and is 100% contained.
El Paso County fire, Peyton
A wildfire started in Peyton around 5:13 p.m. Sunday and forced several residents to evacuate. Residents were allowed to return home after 8 p.m. Sunday night. The fire burned a total of 38 acres and is 100% contained.
Wiggins fire
A fourth fire started near Wiggins north of the Empire Reservoir on Sunday afternoon. Heavy smoke from the fire caused a 3-car crash. The wildfire burned 35-40 acres and is 100% contained. The fire started due to a blown transformer.
Preventing wildfires
Here are some tips to prevent wildfires from the NWS:
- Properly discard cigarettes
- Keep your vehicle off dry grass
- Avoid activities with open flames or sparks
- Avoid power equipment that creates sparks
- Obey burn bans
- Evacuate if fire or smoke is heading your way
- Evacuate if ordered to do so by local officials
The National Weather Service said strong winds and fire danger will continue on Tuesday with gusts around 90 mph possible in the mountains.
Be sure to download the free Pinpoint Weather App to stay up-to-date with the newest data as it comes in.