Summit County Citizens Voice

Summit Voice reader John Warner sent in this view of the Springer Fire burning in Park County, Colorado. Photo taken along Highway 24.

Dangerous fire conditions are expected in Colorado again on Monday, June 18. Click for details on the Red Flag warning.

Park County fire triggers numerous evacuations

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — The Springer Fire, burning since about 12 p.m., has passed 300 acres in size and triggered numerous evacuations in Park and Teller counties. According to InciWeb.org, the Park County evacuations cover the following subdivisions:

• Wagon Tongue Subdivision
• Echo Valley Subdivision
• Circle C Ranch
• Beaver Ranch
• All of County Rd 98
• Park County Rd 403

In Teller County, the following voluntary evacuations have been issued:

• Wilson Lakes
• Forest Glen
• Blue Mountain

Speaking via phone from near the fire, spokesman Ralph Bellah said the color of the smoke has gone from black to gray in the past hour or so.

“It looks like it might have slowed down a little, but it’s hard to tell,” Bellah said, adding that a Type 2 incident management team has been ordered to the fire, burning in grasslands and ponderosa pines.

The cause of the fire is still unknown, Bellah said.

About three-quarters of Colorado is expected to be under a red flag warning for dangerous fire conditions Monday.

As so often these days, the most current updates are flowing via Twitter, under the #SpringerFire hashtag, from a variety of sources, including traditional news outlets, residents of the area and bystanders. All the links in the tweets are live, including links to photos.

Mapping tweeting reports of #springerfire #highparkfire here: bit.ly/LaEJNw | To help via Twitter: bit.ly/nM6HNC—
Kate Starbird (@kate30_dev) June 17, 2012

#RedCross has opened 2 shelters for #SpringerFire. Woodland Park HS & Summit Elementary in Divide CO. PIO en route to WP, CO.—
Pikes Peak Red Cross (@PPRedCross) June 18, 2012

BREAKING NEWS: #SpringerFire now 300 acres, hundreds flee flames ubin.cc/MiQvnd—
The Gazette (@csgazette) June 18, 2012

Smoke from the #HighParkFire and #SpringerFire now visible on satellite: on.fb.me/P6JRCA #cofire #cowx—
Examiner Weather (@ExaminerWeather) June 17, 2012

Nylon halters can melt and cause deep burns on #horses. Use cotton/leather instead. bit.ly/dViyYb #SpringerFire #HighParkFire #hmrd—
Animals in Disaster (@DisasterAnimals) June 18, 2012

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, Drought, Environment, forest fires Tagged: | Colorado Red Flag warning, Colorado wildfires, Park County wildfire, Springer Fire