UPDATE | Thursday, 9:15 a.m. — The Pine Gulch Fire grew to 67,323 acres by Thursday morning, making it the sixth-largest wildfire in Colorado history. It has surpassed the acreage of the 416 Fire from 2018. The fire remains 7% contained.
The state's 10 largest fires, ranked by acreage, are:
1. Hayman Fire (2002): 137,760 acres
2. West Fork Complex (2013): Several fires (West Fork Fire, Windy Pass, Papoose) with a combined 109,632 acres
3. Spring Fire (2018): 108,045 acres
4. High Park Fire (2012): 87,284 acres
5. Missionary Ridge Fire (2002): 72,962 acres
6. Pine Gulch Fire (2020): 67,323 acres
7. 416 Fire (2018): 54,000 acres
8. Bridger Fire (2008): 45,800 acres
9. Last Chance Fire (2012): 45,000 acres
10. Bear Springs/Callie Marie fires (2011): 44,662 acres
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Fire officials say the Pine Gulch Fire burning on Colorado's Western Slope has been active the past few days thanks to relentless heat and wind, and that pattern will continue through Wednesday. It's now the seventh-largest fire in recorded Colorado history.
The Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team said Wednesday morning that the fire was 51,455 acres and 7% contained.
A Red Flag Warning is in effect for the area Wednesday, as temperatures soar to 90 degrees with winds estimated at 13 to 17 mph and gusts up to 27 mph. These conditions make way for possible "extreme, wind-driven fire behavior and high rates of spread," the fire management team reported.
The fire was sparked by a lightning strike on July 31 about 18 miles north of Grand Junction.
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It continued burning northeast on Tuesday, jumping County Road 200 and moving over Cow Ridge, but also began moving northwest, the team reported. The fire burned the western end of County Road 200, which is inaccessible to firefighters on the ground, so crews in helicopters dropped water on that section throughout the day.
Overnight, firefighters continued to protect structures north of Kimball Mountain.
On Wednesday, crews plan to continue enforcing the perimeter and protecting structures. As of Wednesday morning, the flames hadn't reached Roan Creek, the fire management team reported.
At 51,455 acres, the Pine Gulch Fire is now the seventh-largest fire in Colorado history.
The state's 10 largest fires, ranked by acreage, are:
1. Hayman Fire (2002): 137,760 acres
2. West Fork Complex (2013): Several fires (West Fore Fire, Windy Pass, Papoose) with a combined 109,632 acres
3. Spring Fire (2018): 108,045 acres
4. High Park Fire (2012): 87,284 acres
5. Missionary Ridge Fire (2002): 72,962 acres
6. 416 Fire (2018): 54,000 acres
7. Pine Gulch Fire (2020): 51,455 acres
8. Bridger Fire (2008): 45,800 acres
9. Last Chance Fire (2012): 45,000 acres
10. Bear Springs/Callie Marie fires (2011): 44,662 acres
There have been several evacuations for the Pine Gulch Fire, though no new orders have been announced since Sunday evening.
That day, the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office ordered evacuations for residents on the following roads:
· Roan Creek Road/County Road 204 (road closure also in effect)
· Clear Creek Road/County Road 211
· Carr Creek Road/County Road 207
· Brush Creek Road/County Road 209
Residents on Kimball Creek Road/County Road 202 were evacuated on Saturday. Authorities have closed that road.
To learn more about these evacuations, click here.
Residents in the affected counties can sign up to receive alerts and new information on the fire here for Garfield County and here for Mesa County.