As of 3PM today, evacuations were lifted in several Chaffee County neighborhoods. There are still some evacuations in effect. Content of the Chaffee County Sheriff's office press release is below:

CHAFFEE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Salida, Colorado
PRESS RELEASE
Effective Sunday, October 6, 2019, at 3pm, Chaffee County Sheriff John Spezze is lifting the evacuation order for all residents of the Fawn Ridge Subdivision as well as residents evacuated from CR 110, 111, 111a, as well as residents of Mountain Vista Estates, (Paradise Acres) and the residences accessed above Mountain Vista Estates accessed from CR 104. The evac order is also rescinded for the residents living east of CR 104, accessed from private drives south of HWY 50 with the exception of residents living on CR 101, Bear Creek. Chaffee County residents living on CR 101 will still be evacuated.
Re-entry into Fawn Ridge as well as CR 110, 111 and 111a will be allowed at the check point at CR 110-111. No re-entry will be allowed on CR 111 from Hwy 50. Residents on CR 104 will be checked at the current check point on CR 104. Residents will be required to show evac issued credentials or valid id. NO RE-ENTRY WILL BE ALLOWED UNTIL 3PM.
All residents who are allowed back into their homes will be kept under pre evacuation status and are reminded to be ready to evacuate if the need arises. These residents, as well as all county residents are reminded that fire activity and smoke will still be visible as there is still fire activity in the affected area. The Type 1 Team will be burning control lines in the affected area and this fire will also be visible.
All residents still under evacuation order will be notified of a public meeting to discuss fire progress which will be announced and held asap.
The Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office Command Post will be moved to CR 107-108. Residents of Methodist Estates and Boot Hill will respond to this new location for escorts into their homes.
Access on CR 108 and the powerline road into the Methodist evac area will still be controlled.
The Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office will still provide 24 hour patrols in the evac area.
The Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office is conferring on an ongoing basis with the Type 1 leadership in regards to current fire conditions and as soon as it is safe to do so residents of Methodist evac area will be granted full access back to their homes.

Special notes: Please note there are new BLM closures. Please refer to the “Closures” section of this InciWeb page for more information, or go to the BLM website or Facebook for more info (see below).

There is now an interactive map available for the Decker Fire: https://arcg.is/1zPGWH. This map allows you to enter your address and see your location relative to the fire, provides a measuring tool to measure distance, and gives hunting area information as related to forest closures. We will refine this map and add additional information as time goes on. This is NOT a live map and the fire perimeter will be updated once a day. HUNTERS are advised to carefully check Forest and BLM closures before scouting or hunting; some units are in or near the fire.

Weather: Dry conditions due to poor overnight moisture recovery. Daytime humidities 16-23%, temps 45-55F. Winds from the NW, 15-25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph, although winds should calm as the day goes on. A ridge of high pressure will build into the fire area Monday, bringing with it an unstable environment as the dry pattern continues. 

Current Situation: Crews made excellent progress throughout the fire yesterday. In Divisions R and T, firefighters improved direct line from the northwestern edge of the fire perimeter in Division R to the end of the “arm” in Division T. They successfully wrapped around the bottom of the arm, all the way to the Columbine Trail. In Division W, crews scouted for fireline options and staged bulldozers in the division to begin work today. Firefighters in Division X used bulldozers to start improving BLM roads 982 and 5350 and will be utilizing these as fireline to the south of the fire. Crews in Division A kept improving lines on the west and monitoring fire behavior. Aircraft were able to fly during some periods yesterday but were grounded for others due to wind.

Today, firefighters in Division R will improve dozer line south of Boot Hill. They will look for options to improve the Rainbow Trail between the fire’s edge and the dozer line that connects to CR 124 west of the fire. In Division T, crews will work to improve the Columbine Trail from Bear Creek west toward Rainbow, then follow and improve the Rainbow Trail heading south, allowing them to keep “boxing off” sections of the fire area with indirect fireline. Crews in Division T will also be scouting further east on BLM land, looking for options to improve small roads that travel south from Hwy 50. In Division W, firefighters will keep scouting for indirect fireline options between the fire and the community of Howard. Bulldozers are staged in this area, and they may be working today from the intersection of 4/4A, moving west toward the fire. Infrared maps are showing a spot fire in Division W, just to the northeast of the old Oxcart burn scar. Howard residents may see smoke from this area today; they should expect to see helicopters working to cool this spot. Firefighters in Division X on the south will improve trail and road systems on BLM land. Conditions depending, crews may conduct firing operations in the lighter fuels in this area, creating more buffer between burnt and unburnt fuel. In Division A, firefighters will improve dozer line up to the A/R break. Fire behavior on the west has been overall minimal; the fire is slowly backing downslope, consuming fuel in a beneficial way. There is a small spot fire just to the west of the Methodist repeater; fire managers expect this to burn east, straight back into already burned terrain. There may be helicopters in this area today cooling this spot.

Winds should grow calmer today, so it should be a good day for flying. Residents should be aware they may begin seeing more smoke over the fire tomorrow, October 7. If conditions allow, aerial ignitions may take place in Division T to remove fuel on the eastern side of the fire. When conditions are appropriate, these types of firing operations allow managers to utilize fire on their own terms, in the right time, and in the right place. Removing fuel from the fire front effectively slows the spread and places “black” between the fire and the values at risk.

Closures and Public Safety: There are multiple road closures around the Decker Fire area in Chaffee, Fremont and Saguache County. For your safety and firefighter safety, please respect posted closures. For San Isabel Forest closures: https://tinyurl.com/SanIsabelClosures. For Rio Grande Forest closures: https://tinyurl.com/RioGrandeClosures. For BLM closures: Facebook @BLMColoradFire and https://tinyurl.com/BLMCLosure. For evacuation information, please contact the Chaffee County Sherriff’s Office: 719-539-2596, or Fremont County Emergency Management: 719-276-7416, 719-276-7418 or go to the Chaffee County Sheriff or Fremont County Sheriff Facebook pages and websites.

Fire Statistics:

Location: Fire started 9 miles south of, and is now burning 2 miles south of Salida, CO Start Date: September 8, 2019

Size: 6,155 acres Percent Contained: 5

Total Personnel: 806 Cause: Lightning

Resources Include: 8 Type-1 hand crews, 15 Type-2 hand crews, 28 engines, 3 dozers, 10 water tenders

Air Resources: 3 Type-1 (K-MAX, Blackhawk, Chinook), 1 Type-2, and 2 Type 3, and 3 fixed-wing aircraft

October 5, 2019

LLCOF03000

Temporary Emergency Road Closure on Public Lands in Saguache County, Colorado

Summary: Notice is hereby given that a temporary emergency closure for roads in relation to the Decker Fire is in effect on public lands administered by the San Luis Valley Field Office, Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The purpose of these road closures is to ensure public and firefighter safety and are solely for firefighting operations only. The temporary emergency road closure includes the public lands roads located south of Poncha Pass and east of Highway 285 to the roads in the vicinity of Yankee Creek and Rock Creek. This includes the intersection of BLM Road 5350 and Forest Service (FS) Road 982 and the southern- most part of FS Road 982 as it enters BLM. All roads on BLM lands in this area are closed to all vehicle traffic.

Dates: This temporary emergency road closure will be in effect immediately until it is rescinded. For information or questions related to the San Luis Valley Field Office, please contact Melissa Garcia at 719-239-0494.

Supplementary Information: This temporary road closure affects all BLM system and non-system routes within the attached Map. The BLM will post closure signs at main entry points in this area. Maps of the affected area and other documents associated with this closure are available at the San Luis Valley Field Office, 1313 East Highway 160, Monte Vista, Colorado 81144. Under the authority of Section 303 (a) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1733 (a)), 43 CFR 8360.0-7 and 43 CFR 8364.1, the BLM will enforce the following rule (s) in the area identified in this closure notice.

Prohibitions: You must not enter or use BLM system and non-system routes located east of Highway 285 as identified by on the ground signing and maps referred to in this document.

Exemptions: The following persons are exempt from this order: Federal, state, and local officers and employees in the performance of their official duties; members of organized rescue or fire-fighting forces in the performance of their official duties; and persons with written authorization from the BLM.

Penalties: Any person who violates the above rules and/or restriction may be tried before a United States Magistrate and fined no more than $1,000, imprisoned for no more than 12 months, or both. Such violations may also be subject to the enhanced fines provided for by 18 U.S.C. 3571.

October 4, 2019

LLCOF02000

Temporary Emergency Closure of Public Lands in Fremont and Chaffee County, Colorado

Summary: Notice is hereby given that a temporary emergency closure for public and firefighter safety in relation to the Decker Fire is in effect on public lands administered by the Royal Gorge Field Office, Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The temporary emergency closure includes public lands located south and southwest of Highway 50 in the Salida and Wellsville area including areas such as Methodist Mountain and Bear Creek.

Dates: This temporary emergency closure will be in effect immediately until it is rescinded. For information or questions related to the Royal Gorge Field Office, please refer to the RGFO website at https://www.blm.gov/office/royal-gorge-field-office contact Kalem Lenard at 719-269-8538.

Supplementary Information: This temporary closure affects BLM lands located south and southwest of Highway 50 in the Salida and Wellsville, Colorado area. The BLM will post closure signs at main entry points in this area. Maps of the affected area and other documents associated with this closure are available at the Royal Gorge Field Office, 3028 E. Main Street, Canon City, Colorado 81212. Under the authority of Section 303 (a) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1733 (a)), 43 CFR 8360.0-7 and 43 CFR 8364.1, the BLM will enforce the following rule (s) in the area identified in this closure notice.

Prohibitions: You must not enter or use BLM lands located south and southwest of US Highway 50 in the Salida and Wellsville, Colorado area as identified by on the ground signing and maps referred to in this document.

Exemptions: The following persons are exempt from this order: Federal, state, and local officers and employees in the performance of their official duties; members of organized rescue or fire-fighting forces in the performance of their official duties; and persons with written authorization from the BLM.

Penalties: Any person who violates the above rules and/or restriction may be tried before a United States Magistrate and fined no more than $1,000, imprisoned for no more than 12 months, or both. Such violations may also be subject to the enhanced fines provided for by 18 U.S.C. 3571.

October 5, 2019 (10 a.m.)

Special notes: There is a PUBLIC MEETING about the Decker Fire TODAY at 10am: Salida SteamPlant, 220 W. Sackett Ave.

HUNTERS are advised to carefully check Forest and BLM closures before scouting or hunting; some units are in or near the fire.

Weather: There is a RED FLAG WARNING in effect from 11am to 8pm. Predicted conditions will be dry with strong winds throughout the day and humidities dipping into the low teens. Temps 45-55F. Winds from the W/NW, 25-35 mph, gusts 40-45. In the afternoon, winds will shift and come from due west. Gusts of 50-55 mph are possible across the fire area between 3pm and 6pm. Gusts of 30-40 mph will persist through the night. Fuels are dry and receptive to embers. The combination of dry fuels, low humidities, and high winds creates significant potential for spotting. Once established, wind-driven spot fires could spread quickly. 

The potential for winds to carry fire eastward today prompted a PRE-EVACUATION notice for the communities of Howard, Pine Ridge, Wellsville, and Swissvale yesterday afternoon. 

Current Situation: Fire was less active yesterday (Oct 4) than previous days. Helicopters were able to fly and do bucket work (drop water over the fire) for most of the day. Crews in Divisions A and R made significant progress on a dozer line along a ridge west of the fire. There is now dozer line connecting Divisions A and R, proceeding northwards, and tying into CR 128. Saw teams and dozers in Division R worked on clearing the road leading up Methodist to the repeater; many burned trees and powerlines are strewn across it. In Division T on the northeast, crews successfully constructed direct handline and some dozer line around most of the “arm” reaching toward Bear Creek. Firefighters in Division X worked to improve existing road systems, and structure protection crews assessed homes in the community of Howard. More resources arrived on the fire yesterday; there are now 730 people working on the Decker Fire. More crews and engines are on the way.

Fire managers have restructured the divisions on the fire. There is no longer a Division S, and a Division W has been established on the east to focus on areas between the fire and Howard.

Today, firefighters in Division R will improve dozer line and work to tie it into the powerline road. Crews in Division T will improve the direct handline around the “arm,” wrapping around to the Columbine Trail. The new Division W is treacherous wilderness terrain, and there are no options close to the fire that offer a high probability of success. Thus, crews in Division W will be scouting for fireline options closer to the edge of the wilderness and towards the community of Howard. There will be a strong presence of structure protection crews performing assessments and structure prep work in Howard and surrounding communities today. In Division X, crews will scout for additional fireline options further south of the fire and keep improving existing roads in this area. Firefighters in Division A are improving fireline and monitoring for changes in fire behavior.

Aircraft will be utilized today as much as possible, although wind speeds could ground them throughout the day.

A Rapid Extraction Module (REM) has been assigned to the Decker Fire. This is a group of highly trained firefighter-paramedics proficient in high and low angle rope rescue; if a firefighter is injured or incapacitated in difficult-to-access terrain (which is prevalent on the Decker Fire), these rescuers create rope and pully systems to extract the injured firefighter and get them to a location where a helicopter can land or an ambulance can access them. The firefighter would then be transported to a hospital.

Closures and Public Safety: There are multiple road closures around the Decker Fire area in Chaffee, Fremont and Saguache County. For your safety and firefighter safety, please respect posted closures. For San Isabel Forest closures, please go to: https://tinyurl.com/SanIsabelClosures. For Rio Grande Forest closures, please go to: https://tinyurl.com/RioGrandeClosures. For evacuation information, please contact the Chaffee County Sherriff’s Office at 719-539-2596 or go to the Chaffee County Sheriff or Fremont County Sheriff Facebook pages and websites.

Fire Statistics:

Location: Fire started 9 miles south of, and is now burning 2 miles south of Salida, CO Start Date: September 8, 2019

Size: 5,921 acres Percent Contained: 5

Total Personnel: 730 Cause: Lightning

Resources Include: 8 Type-1 hand crews, 12 Type-2 hand crews, 24 engines, 3 dozers, 8 water tenders

Air Resources: 3 Type-1 (K-MAX, Blackhawk, Chinook), 1 Type-2, and 2 Type 3, and 3 fixed-wing aircraft

Special notes: Correction from yesterday’s update: Firefighter’s were ASSESSING structures in the Howard area yesterday. Actual structure prep work will begin in the coming days, starting in the Pine Ridge area and moving east from there.

Weather: Near critical fire conditions again today. Moisture recoveries improved last night; however, dry weather and strong winds return after 10am today. Winds should be light this morning at 7-15mph but will increase from the W/SW to 20-30 mph sustained with gusts of 35-40 mph. Humidities from 17-23%; temperatures 52-61F. Strong winds will persist into the night, with gusts up to 40mph. Humidity recoveries predicted to be low, leading to another RED FLAG WARNING on Saturday. Large, heavy beetle kill fuels remain very dry, and are receptive to spotting and increased fire behavior. 

Current Situation: The infrared aircraft was able to fly last night (October 3) and obtained a current acreage of 5,824. Much of this change in growth was from the north and eastward push on October 2. Growth yesterday (October 3) was mostly on the western side of the fire in Division A and on the southeast side near the border of Divisions X and S, in the Wilderness on the Rio Grande Side. Fire behavior was somewhat reduced yesterday due to lighter winds and better overnight humidity recovery, and growth was minimal on the north and northeast. Yesterday, crews in Division R created dozer line south of the Boot Hill neighborhood, while firefighters in Division A on the west worked on indirect line with dozers and handcrews. Crews in Divisions X, S and T scouted for fireline opportunities, and helicopters made water drops over the fire for much of the day. Large air tankers dropped retardant along the ridge from the repeater site on Methodist Mountain north towards the powerlines.

Today, dozers will keep up their work in Division R, placing line between the fire and the values at risk. Firefighters in Division R will begin looking for options to construct direct fireline on the north edge of the fire, along the “finger” that runs east toward Bear Creek. Crews and dozers in Division A will construct indirect fireline along a ridge to the west of the fire’s edge, leading north toward the A/R division break. Weather allowing, fixed-wing aircraft will keep working on the retardant line along this ridge. A handcrew will go into Division X today to scout for possibilities for fireline near the old Oxcart burn scar and will keep improving existing road systems. Firefighters in Divisions S and T will improve existing handline and scout for opportunities for more indirect line to the east of the fire. The terrain in this area is extremely difficult and dangerous; crews must patiently look for options that present the highest possibilities for success while minimizing risk to firefighter safety. Structure protection groups remain present in Boot Hill and Bear Creek today, and they will also assess structures in Howard. Fire managers will assist utility companies in assessing options for dealing with damage to the infrastructure on Methodist Mountain.

While fire managers hope to utilize aircraft today, there is a strong possibility that high wind speeds may prevent their use.

Many new resources have arrived on the Decker Fire including nine new engines, multiple firefighting crews, another dozer, another Type 1 (Chinook) helicopter, and several more overhead staff. There are now 458 people working on the Decker Fire, and more resources are arriving today. Firefighters are aggressively engaging in suppression actions where values are at risk and where they have the highest probability of success.

Closures and Public Safety: There are multiple road closures around the Decker Fire area in Chaffee, Freemont and Saguache County. For your safety and firefighter safety, please respect posted closures. For San Isabel Forest closures, please go to: https://tinyurl.com/SanIsabelClosures. For Rio Grande Forest closures, please go to: https://tinyurl.com/RioGrandeClosures. For evacuation information, please contact the Chaffee County Sherriff’s Office at 719-539-2596 or go to the Chaffee County Sheriff or Fremont County Sheriff Facebook pages and websites.

Fire Statistics:

Location: Fire started 9 miles south of, and is now burning 2 miles south of Salida, CO Start Date: September 8, 2019

Size: 5,824 acres Percent Contained: 5

Total Personnel: 458 Cause: Lightning

Resources Include: 4 Type-1 hand crews, 8 Type-2 hand crews, 19 engines, 3 dozers, 5 water tenders

Decker Fire Update: Thursday, October 3, 2019

Special notes: This morning at 7am, the Type 1 Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team (IMT) assumed command of the Decker Fire with Mark Giacoletto as Incident Commander. The Rocky Mountain IMT thanks the Type 3 IMT for its dedication and skilled management of the Decker Fire. We look forward to serving this community.

The infrared aircraft was unable to fly last night due to mechanical issues, thus today’s map does not have an updated fire perimeter or updated acreage. The acreage listed on this update and today’s map is from yesterday morning. We know the fire has grown several hundred acres. We will make this information available as soon as we can.

Weather: The fire had slightly better overnight humidity recoveries than expected, and winds remained calm. Today, humidities will remain low at 10-20%, with temperatures 52-61F. Winds should remain calm this morning, and increase to 10-15mph from the SW, with gusts 20-25mph. These wind speeds could contribute to an increase in fire behavior starting around 11am or 12pm. The winds are less than previous days, so smoke may not be transported as far as it has in past days. Near-critical fire weather will persist through the week. 

Current Situation: Yesterday, the combination of low humidities (down to 8% at times) and high winds set the stage for significant fire behavior. Around 1pm, fire on the north-facing aspect of Methodist Mountain was driven northeast and east by wind. The fire crossed over the Rainbow Trail; this prompted an evacuation of the Bear Creek neighborhood along CR 101. Fire moved east toward CR 101 and the Bear Creek drainage; however, infrared capable aircraft was unable to fly last night to report on an exact new perimeter. We will share updates on fire growth as soon as this intel has been obtained. Yesterday, crews and equipment in Division R near the Boot Hill and Bear Creek neighborhoods worked aggressively to limit fire spread and protect values at risk. Dozers created fireline parallel to the powerlines heading east toward the 101, and heavy aircraft dropped retardant between the fire and the Boot Hill and Bear Creek neighborhoods.

Today, firefighters in Division R will construct more dozer line heading east toward CR 101. If conditions allow, they may perform firing operations to eliminate unburned fuel between the fire front and the values at risk in Boot Hill. Residents may see aircraft dropping water or retardant in Division R this morning. There will be a strong structure protection presence in the Boot Hill and Bear Creek neighborhoods, and structure prep will also take place in Howard. Crews in Division A on the west side of the fire will scout for options to construct additional indirect handline and dozer line heading north toward Division R. Division X on the southeast side will now be split to include a new Division T, and crews in this area will be scouting for indirect fireline options. Please note that, as of today, the fire will also be divided into two “Branches” (Branch 1 on the north and Branch 2 on the south). Each branch will contain Divisions. Dividing up a fire into “Branches” and “Divisions” is a way for fire managers to keep operations organized, defined, and properly staffed.

Resources for the night operational period have been increased, and multiple crews, engines, and managers will be working overnight to monitor fire behavior and protect values.

Closures and Public Safety: There are multiple road closures around the Decker Fire area in Chaffee, Freemont and Saguache County. For your safety and firefighter safety, please respect posted closures. For San Isabel Forest closures, please go to: https://tinyurl.com/SanIsabelClosures. For Rio Grande Forest closures, please go to: https://tinyurl.com/RioGrandeClosures. For evacuation information, please contact the Chaffee County Sherriff’s Office at 719-539-2596 or go to the Chaffee County Sheriff or Freemont County Sheriff Facebook pages and websites.

Fire Statistics:

Location: 9 miles south of Salida, CO
Start Date: September 8, 2019
Size: 3,746 acres (as of 10-2-19)
Percent Contained: 5
Total Personnel: 259
Cause: Lightning
Resources Include: 3 Type-1 hand crews, 5 Type-2 hand crews, 10 engines, 2 dozers, 5 water tenders
Air Resources: 2 Type-1 (K-MAX and Blackhawk), 1 Type-2, and 2 Type 3, and 3 fixed-wing aircraft

The Rio Grande National Forest Supervisor issued a closure order for the Decker Fire area in Saguache County, that includes roads and trails located within the restricted area including:
NFSR 990, NFSR 945, NFSR 980, NFSR 982, NFST 757, NFST 758. The purpose of this closure is to protect natural resources and public safety due to the continuing activity on the Decker Fire.

Decker Fire Shows Significant Growth Overnight, Evacuations in Place

EVACUATIONS: There is a Mandatory Evacuation Order from the Chaffee County Sheriff's Office for: Methodist Mountain Estates, Boot Hill, Pinon Ridge Estate, Fawn Ridge Estates, and Mountain Vista Village. These are the areas South of County Road (CR) 111 between CR 104 and the west edge of Fawn Ridge Estates. Those evacuating need to check in at the Chaffee County Fairgrounds; they do not have to stay but do need to check in for accountability and information. Large animals can be evacuated to the fairgrounds. For the most up to date evacuation information, please go to Chaffee County Sherriff’s Office Facebook page or call Chaffee County Sherriff at 719-539-2596. If you have not evacuated, PLEASE DO SO NOW.

Special Notice: A Type 1 Incident Management Team has been ordered and command of the Decker Fire will be transferred to this team on Thursday evening, October 3, 2019.

Current Situation: The Decker Fire grew over 1,500 acres last night, and as of 1:30am was 3,746 acres. Humidity recovery was very poor, and winds gusted from 25 to 40mph over the fire the entire night with no reprieve. These conditions contributed to increased fire behavior and spotting. The wind driven fire grew over the northeast aspects of Methodist Mountain and has crossed the Rainbow Trail near CR 108. This movement triggered mandatory evacuations at approximately 2am, and fire managers coordinated with local cooperators including Chaffee County Sherriff Spezze, Salida Fire Chief Bess and Chaffee County Emergency Manager Atkins.

Today in Division R, multiple dozers, engines, aircraft, and crews will be aggressively working to check fire spread to the north and east. There are five helicopters dropping water on the fire this morning. They will focus on cooling and checking the fire’s edge just south of the Boot Hill neighborhood. Dozers are creating fireline south of the Boot Hill neighborhood from CR 108 heading west and from CR 108 east to the WAPA powerline. From there, dozer line will continue east along the powerline toward the BLM-5672 road. Crews will conduct burnout operations from CR 108 west toward CR 106 in order to place “black” between the fire front and residences. Two large airtankers have been ordered, and they plan to drop retardant northeast of the fire from the powerlines southeast to the Columbine Trailhead, working to protect CR 101 and the Bear Creek neighborhood. Crews in this area will continue prepping and improving fireline along CR 101 to Columbine TH. In Division A on the west, crews will conduct small burnout operations and scout for more opportunities for additional fire line. The fire had some movement west and north in this Division last night, but it has not impacted the indirect containment lines. Fire managers and crews are implementing plans that present the greatest probability of success; portions of the fire are now in terrain where we can safely engage in suppression efforts. Firefighter and public safety remain the highest priority.

Weather & Fuel Conditions: Winds are still gusty this morning and speeds are increasing. Sustained W/SW winds along the exposed area of the fire will be 20-30mph, with the more sheltered areas at 15-25mph. Gusts may be as high as 40mph across the fire area. Humidities will remain low this afternoon at 8-11%. Temperatures between 52 and 60F. There is no moisture predicted over the fire. There is no predicted cloud cover, allowing for increased daytime heating. All of these factors contribute to the possibility of increased fire behavior. Smoke is likely to drift more east than north today. A Red Flag Warning is in effect from 11am to 7pm. Critical fire weather and high winds are expected to persist through the week.

UPDATE 6:37AM from Chaffee County Sheriff's Office

Evacuation order from the Chaffee County Sheriff's Office now includes: Methodist Mountain Estates, Boot Hill, Pinon Ridge Estate, Fawn Ridge Estates, Mountain Vista Village. These are the areas South of County Road 111 between County Road 104 and the west edge of Fawn Ridge Estates. Those evacuating need to check in at the Chaffee County Fairgrounds, they do not have to stay but do need to check in for accountability and information.