Calm Winds Help Colo. Firefighters

NEW CASTLE, Colo. – Calm winds and higher humidity helped stop the spread of an 1,800-acre wildfire in rugged western Colorado mountains Thursday, and fire officials said they may allow evacuees from 90 homes to return later in the day.

“It is looking good,” said David Boyd of the Bureau of Land Management. “Today the goal is to keep the fire from spreading.”

The fire remained 50 percent contained and some spots were burning inside the perimeter, which is not a problem, said Boyd. He said 300 firefighters were working on the fire, aided by water drops from helicopters.

Even though conditions improved, firefighters remained cautious because of the steep terrain and unpredictable winds. Boyd said afternoon winds usually come from the west, but once they funnel into South Canyon along the Colorado River, they can shift direction with little notice.

Residents of 90 homes in the Canyon Creek Estates subdivision were evacuated Monday and Tuesday. The same homes were threatened by a fire that killed 14 firefighters in 1994, though no homes were lost.

West of the fire, a second blaze had charred more than 1,000 remote and rugged acres but was nearly contained. All but 30 of the 120 firefighters were being sent home.