The Saguache County Sheriff’s Office is reporting a fast moving fire in the LaGarita area, reportedly starting near the Natural Arch.
The #LopezFireCO was reported to Pueblo Interagency Dispatch at 4:24pm on Sunday afternoon, June 12. It is burning on Forest Service land approximately 10 miles north of Del Norte, CO off Forest Service Road #670. Several engines are on-scene and numerous additional resources have been ordered, including a helicopter.
Nearby residents are being asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office for evacuation instructions (719) 655-2544, but encourage residents to evacuate if they see fire.
The US Forest Service, Rio Grande, reported Sunday evening that “initial responders on the Lopez Fire have knocked down the advance of the fire. Supported by aerial resources, ground crews have begun fireline construction and will work until it is unsafe to remain on the line.”
The agency hasn’t stated the percentage of containment of the fire, but the state’s Multi-Mission Aircraft mapped the fire at 88 acres at around 7:40pm.
Crews will remain on the fire overnight to monitor hot spots and flare-ups should they occur, according to the Forest Service. They reported that additional hand crews will arrive in the morning to secure the control lines and natural features and begin mop-up if the fire holds within the current burned area.
Initial response to the fire included the Center Volunteer Fire Department, three federal engines, 1 fire suppression module, two single-engine air tankers, one large air tanker, an air attack platform, and one helicopter.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
According to a Saguache County Sheriff’s Office, some evacuations have been ordered for the La Garita Creek area.
The National Weather Service reported warnings, that portions of Southern Colorado’s higher terrain were under a Sunday/Monday Red Flag Warning due to hot and dry weather in the region.
“The fuels in the Southeast Mountains have become critically dry, so this area has been added to the red flag warnings,” they said in a Saturday alert. “Fuels in some areas are currently too moist for critical fire weather conditions, and the fire weather highlights may be expanded eastward if the fuels become critically dry. The outlook has hot, breezy, and dry weather continuing into Tuesday with continued risk for critical fire weather conditions.”
The La Garita Area is a high mountain range in the San Juan Mountains in Saguache County, between Salida and Monte Vista. The small town of La Garita itself has just a few homes, a historic church, the Capilla de San Juan Bautiste, and a Trading Post.