TELLER COUNTY, Colo. — A fire burning near Divide has prompted mandatory evacuations and pre-evacuation orders, according to the Teller County Sheriff's Office (TCSO).
The Highland Lake Fire is 97 acres and 0 percent contained as of 9 p.m. Monday.
The following areas are under an evacuation order as of 7 p.m.:
- Alpine View
- Aspen Village
- Beaver Lake Circle
- Beaver Lake Place
- Broken Wheel
- Cedar Mountain North to Golden Bell
- Snowhill
- Star View Trail
- Wayward Wind
The following areas are under a pre-evacuation warning:
- Aspen Moor subdivision
- Buck Lake Drive
- Copper Lake Drive
- County Road 5
- County Road 51
- County Road 52
- Forest Service Road 357
- Grandview subdivision
- Spring Valley subdivision
The fire is burning near Beaver Lake Circle, which is located near Blue Mesa Drive northwest of Divide. TCSO said about 700 homes have been evacuated.
In an update Monday evening, the sheriff's office said the quick-spreading fire has slowed down as the temperature cooled. One structure has been lost but no injuries have been reported, according to TCSO.
Those who need shelter can go to the Woodland Park Community Church, located at 800 Valley View Drive in Woodland Park. Large animals and livestock can be housed at the Teller County Fairgrounds in Cripple Creek. The sheriff's office is working on a shelter for domestic animals.
An investigation is underway but investigators determined the fire was human-caused, according to the sheriff's office. The Teller County Board of Commissioners issued a disaster declaration due to the fire.
Officials with the sheriff's office said they were nervous about the fire due to the area and weather conditions. Fire crews are planning for an "aggressive" firefight on Tuesday, which includes air drops.
Due to the fire, Teller County is now under a Stage 3 fire ban. The Woodland Park School District RE-2 said its Summit and Columbine campuses will be closed Tuesday.
The secondary campus will operate under remote learning. The district said families who are not able to access school online can contact their teachers for an excused absence.
This is a developing story and will be updated.