New management takes over for Oak Ridge Fire

(PUEBLO/CUSTER COUNTIES, Colo.) — The Oak Ridge Fire, which started Saturday, June 22 near Beulah in Pueblo County, has now grown to 787 acres with 0% containment according to the latest update posted Tuesday evening June 25, and now a new team is taking command of the incident.

Early Wednesday morning, June 26, the Rocky Mountain Resort Incident Management Team, three, arrived in the area to begin management of the fire, and according to the Oak Ridge Fire Facebook page, an update Daily update on the fire will be released later Wednesday.

The latest map of the fire's perimeter shows it has officially reached Custer County.

Fire perimeter as of Wednesday morning June 26, 2024:

On Tuesday, several fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft provided support to crews on the ground by dropping drops of water on the flames. Video of a Sky Crane was captured as its water was sucked into its interior tank.

Also Tuesday, the Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment sent out an air quality advisory for Pueblo County as it is impacted by wildfire smoke. Those who live in the area should try to stay indoors and limit outdoor activities if smoke becomes heavy in their neighborhood; this is particularly important for people with heart or respiratory diseases, the very young and the elderly.

“Consider moving temporarily if smoke is present indoors and is making you sick,” the Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment wrote. “If visibility is less than five miles in the smoke in your neighborhood, the smoke has reached unhealthy levels.”

Meanwhile, mandatory evacuation orders remain in effect for Middle Creek Canyon Road, as well as pre-evacuation orders for Cascade Avenue, Pine Avenue, Beulah Highland Road and Vine Mesa. Authorities are also asking people who do not live near Beulah to avoid the area at this time.

American Red Cross volunteers assist at the community evacuation center located at the St. Charles Mesa Recreation Center at 1650 Cooper Place in Pueblo. There is also a livestock shelter only at 4 Bar S, located at 6675 CO-78.

FOX21 News will continue to monitor the progress of the fire and update this story as information comes in.