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Wednesday Evening Update: Vosburg Pike Fire, 70 Acres, 75% Containment, Evacuations in Place

Durango Interagency Dispatch

8:00 PM Evening Update from La Plata County spokesperson Sarah Jacobson: The Vosburg Pike Fire is now approximately 70 acres and 75% contained due to hard work by many agencies including Upper Pine Fire Protection District, Durango Fire Protection District, United States Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management.  A large air tanker, Chinook helicopter, smaller helicopter and two single-engine air tankers have been dropping fire retardant and water, while engine crews, hand crews and a bulldozer were used to build and strengthen fire lines around the fire. Fire command has been taken over by a Type III Incident Management Team led by Incident Commander Brad Pietruszka. 

Evacuation of 12 homes were made this afternoon along County Road 228, ½ mile radius from the 7000 block, and homes within a two mile radius are on pre-evacuation notice. County Road 228 is closed at the intersection of CR 227 and CR 502.  An evacuation center is set up at Florida Mesa Elementary, 216 Highway 172. 

 

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

 
7:15 PM Update: According to Durango Interagency Dispatch, firefighters are reporting good progress on constructing a containment line around the Vosburg Pike Fire, but say it is not contained nor have they declared it under control. Winds have died down and aircraft continue to make water and retardant drops. Residents in the area should remain vigilant.

The fire is burning on Rabbit Mountain between Florida Road and County Road 228 on Bureau of Land Management property. Helicopters and single engine air tankers are working the fire with local agencies.

Evacuations have been made for homes along County Road 228, ½ mile radius from the 7000 block and homes within a two mile radius are on pre-evacuation notice, reported Sarah Jacobson, spokesperson for La Plata County. Durango Fire Protection District and Upper Pine Fire Protection District are on scene and several aircraft are working the fire. The fire had grown to  approximately 75 acres as of 7:00 PM.  County Road 228 is closed in the vicinity of the fire. An evacuation center is being set up at Florida Mesa Elementary on Highway 172.

The fire was first reported about 2:30 p.m. near county roads 228 and 502, in a rural area northeast of Elmore’s Corner and northwest of Bayfield, according to La Plata County Sheriff's spokesman Chris Burke.

 KSUT will continue to provide official updates as we're notified.

La Plata County’s emergency notification system (commonly referred to as “Reverse 9-1-1”) includes cell phones and VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). Residents who live in La Plata County may register up to five cell or Internet phone numbers with a physical street address, ensuring that emergency notifications are received even when residents are not at home or if they don’t have a land line.  To sign up, visit:  http://bit.ly/LPCCodeRed.

KSUT's Wildfire Resources Page has updated links to track fires and smoke impacts. 

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