Oak Ridge fire grows to 1,156 acres Saturday, 0% contained
The Oak Ridge fire burning in Pueblo County grew slightly overnight, and is now an estimated 1,156 acres in size with 0% containment as of Saturday morning, according to an announcement from the Rocky Mountain Incident Management team.
The blaze, burning three miles northwest of Beulah, erupted a week ago on June 22 after a lightning strike, officials said.
For the past seven days, fire crews have worked tirelessly, setting up both direct and indirect fire lines to stunt growth and protect surrounding homes, structures and watersheds. Aviation assistance has been on the scene above the flames, dropping flame retardant and water buckets.
According to officials, 467 fire personnel were on the scene Saturday morning to continue to construct indirect fire lines to limit the blaze’s spread.
In a Saturday news release, incident manager Casey Cheesbrough said the biggest struggle for firefighters in tackling this incident is the location of the fire, running along steep and rugged terrain.
“Most of the area north, west, and south of the fire is in country that is steep and rugged and increases the time it takes for firefighters to get to safety in the event of increased fire behavior or an accident,” Cheesbrough said.
Firefighters will continue to work to construct indirect fire lines Saturday, incorporating natural surrounding containment features like meadows and rocky areas, as well as trails and roads to “box in,” the blaze.
“That (work) will box in the fire and provide opportunities to conduct burnout operations to reduce fuel loads with the highest probability of success,” Cheesbrough said.
According to officials, there are no current records of a fire inside or outside the fire’s perimeters in over 100 years, which has allowed fuel surrounding the blaze between the Junkins fire burn scar to the north and the Mason fire burn scar to the south to become overgrown and dense.
“If fuels aren’t reduced, it’s not a matter of if fire will occur, it’s a matter of when. Reducing the fuels will provide a higher rate of success of keeping wildland fire away from Beulah and other surrounding communities,” Cheesbrough said.
Mandatory evacuation orders for residents along Middle Creek Canyon Road remained in place Friday. Residents of Vine Mesa, Cascade Avenue, Pine Avenue and Beulah Highlands Road remain under a pre-evacuation status.
The U.S. Forest Service announced a closure beginning Wednesday of the Pike-San Isabel National Forests and the Cimarron and Comanche national Grasslands due to the impacts of the Oak Ridge fire, according to a social media announcement from the agency.
According to Forest Service officials, the closure will be in effect through July 26, “unless rescinded,” the post states.