The Oak Ridge wildfire, now burning on 1,310 acres of U.S. Forest Service land in Pueblo County, was 69% contained Monday, according to fire officials.
Firefighters increased the containment line over the weekend as the fire’s acreage grew, reaching 69% containment as of Monday morning, according to a Facebook update by Oak Ridge fire officials.
On Saturday morning, the fire, sparked by lightning on June 22, was 1,193 acres and 50% contained, double the 25% containment reached on Thursday. Firefighters on Saturday worked to contain the southeastern corner of the fire and protect property in Beulah and the Middle Creek watershed using drip torches and aerial ignition. By Sunday morning, the fire was burning on 1,240 acres and the containment line was 59%, fire officials said in a Sunday update.
Crews will continue to pull brush back from the fireline, reposition berms — soil piled along the outside edge of the fire — and place water bars to divert water and reduce the risk of erosion, fire officials said.
Hot, dry weather may cause fuels within the fire perimeter to smoke and burn. Light smoke may travel west of Beulah on Monday afternoon and evening, according to the U.S. Interagency Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program.
Pre-evacuation notices remain in effect for Middle Creek Canyon Road, Vine Mesa, Cascade Avenue, Pine Avenue and Beulah Highlands Road.
Trails and roads in the San Carlos Ranger District of the Pike and San Isabel National Forests are closed until July 26, according to the U.S. Forest Service. There is also a temporary flight restriction over the fire area.
The fire is the first to burn in the area in more than 100 years, forest officials said, and may not be contained until late July.
