DENVER (AP) — The fire danger is high again in western Colorado, where hot and dry conditions have led to a wildfire burning near Steamboat Springs since mid-July to flare up.
Routt National Forest Service spokesman Aaron Voos told the Steamboat Pilot & Today that the fire in the Routt National Forest jumped established containment lines Wednesday and moved to within about 5 miles (8 kilometers) of U.S. 40. Hunters and campers in the area were evacuated.
Video footage from the Multi Mission Aircraft (MMA) of the smoke column from the #silvercreekfire today #cofire pic.twitter.com/N7qJqu7Ghr
— COFirePrev&Control (@COStateFire) September 13, 2018
Meanwhile, better weather conditions to the east have helped firefighters gain 25 percent containment on the Seaman Fire, which is burning about 18 miles (29 kilometers) northwest of Fort Collins.
The fire has burned about 170 acres (69 hectares) since Tuesday. It's burning in grasses and pockets of ponderosa pine in the 2012 Hewlett Fire burn scar.