Residents in Middle Creek Canyon are under a mandatory evacuation notice as the Oak Ridge fire on the western edge of Pueblo County reached an estimated 787 acres with zero containment as of Tuesday evening. 

Pueblo County Sheriff David Lucero said during a Tuesday press conference that firefighters had expected the fire to grow significantly Tuesday due to weather conditions. He said the winds, forecasted to be out of the north/northwest would be the predominant driving factor for fire movement. 

The fire grew more than 500 acres Tuesday, after a quiet Monday night. 

Tuesday afternoon fire officials said most of the intense fire activity is behind them as they head into Tuesday evening. Crews will continue working until the end of shift, monitor overnight and be back in the morning to continue working the fire. Local, state and federal agencies are assisting.

The fire officially crossed the Custer County line as of 2:30 p.m., according to fire officials. 

Additionally, electric service has been cut to residents on Middle Creek Canyon road, also affecting three residences in Cascade, according to the Beulah Fire Protection and Ambulance District.

Due to the fire, the Beulah General Store ballot dropbox closed Tuesday as of 12:30 p.m. Residents are encouraged to utilize the Lamb Branch Library dropbox at 2525 S. Pueblo Blvd. For a full list of dropbox locations, please visit county.pueblo.org. 

A Red Cross Evacuation Center has opened at the St. Charles Mesa Recreation Center at 1650 Cooper Place in Pueblo, according to a social media announcement. 

“Red Cross volunteers are onsite to provide food, comfort, and a safe place to stay!” officials said on Facebook. 

Oak Ridge Fire incident commander Scott Campbell said  four hot shot crews were engaged in the fire starting Tuesday morning, along with two heavy-tank helicopters, one medium helicopter, and a small helicopter running “bucket work.” 

Campbell said efforts are currently focused on protecting the community of Beluah and North Creek. 

The Facebook post states fire crews will continue to evaluate the best ways to access the fire and engage safely to protect fire personnel, structures, infrastructure and watershed areas. 

The fire was reported Saturday morning and is located 3 miles northwest of Beulah. Gazette news partner KOAA reports the cause of the fire was from a lightning strike. 

No structures are threatened at this time. As for road closures, Central Avenue is closed at Grand Avenue.

For updates on the fire, visit the Oak Ridge fire Facebook page. Social media updates can be found on the organization’s X account. 

The weather for the area continues to see temperatures soar. A heat advisory was in effect for the region for most of Tuesday.

According to the National Weather Service the heat in Pueblo County continues Wednesday with a high near 91. There will be a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 3 p.m., but much of the day will have sunny skies. The area will see a monsoon-like wind pattern in the mid to upper atmosphere paired with a better wind flow from the Gulf of Mexico at the surface, which increases moisture statewide.

Colorado Springs weather: Heat advisory Monday as temperatures soar