Oak Ridge Fire at 1,156 acres, assisted by CSFD

Courtesy: Oak Ridge Fire 2024 Facebook Page

(PUEBLO COUNTY, Colo.) — The Oak Ridge Fire Page reported a slight increase in size on Saturday, June 29, to 1,156 acres, and the fire is at zero containment, as of approximately 11 a.m.

According to the official fire information update, most of the area to the north, west and south of the fire is steep and rugged, making it difficult for firefighters to access it quickly and safely in the event of an increase in fire behavior or an accident.

Crews are working to connect fire lines to fire spots and provide opportunities for burn operations to reduce fuel loads. The area is particularly overgrown as there has been no fire recorded inside or outside the perimeter for over 100 years.

Crews have created a buffer zone between the fire and the town of Beulah and will continue to monitor the fire line and clean up any hot spots. Structure protection crews will continue their search to locate and assess structures east of the fire, along the County Road 78 corridor and the Highway 165 corridor west of the fire .

Middle Creek Road remains closed and homes along the road are under mandatory evacuation. The following neighborhoods are in pre-evacuation status: Vine Mesa, Cascade Avenue, Pine Avenue and Beulah Highlands Road.

The U.S. Interagency Wildfire Air Quality Response Program is currently producing a daily smoke outlook report for southeastern Colorado and the Oak Ridge Fire. The report can be viewed here.

The Colorado Springs Fire Department also announced it had sent a Type 6 brush truck with three crew members to help contain the fire.