APRIL 21 UPDATE: Containment is at 90% on the fire that burned 1,582 acres near Lake Dorothy in southern Colorado, state fire officials said in a final update.
LAS ANIMAS COUNTY, Colo. — A fire burning near Lake Dorothy in southern Colorado grew to over 1,000 acres by Wednesday as officials warned high fire danger conditions were expected to continue through the rest of the week.
Fire officials responding to the Schwachheim Fire burning about 13 miles southeast of Trinidad in the Lake Dorothy State Wildlife Area said the blaze had grown to 1,003 acres by Wednesday morning. The fire was 646 acres in size on Tuesday.
About 100 firefighters are currently fighting the fire, which is burning in grass and brush fuels in an old burn scar area of rugged, steep drainages west of Lake Dorothey Reservoir. It was reported Sunday at around 4:40 p.m.
The Colorado Type 3 Incident Management Team assumed management of the fire at 6 a.m. Tuesday, less than a day after Gov. Jared Polis verbally declared a disaster emergency for the fire.
In an update, officials said the fire was active overnight, with some growth in the east drainage. Erratic and shifting winds combined with difficult terrain contributed to fire growth Monday, they wrote. Additional resources were ordered to assist firefighters at the scene.
Winds were expected to pick up on Thursday and become gusty, with relative humidity values expected to remain in the single digits all week. A fire weather watch is in effect for Thursday, fire officials said.
The Lake Dorothy State Wildlife Area is closed, and a temporary flight restriction is in effect above the fire. Drone users were warned not to fly their devices as it hinders firefighters from fighting the fire from the sky.
Stage 2 fire restrictions are in effect for Trinidad, Aguilar, El Moro, Cokedale, Jansen, and Hoehne. People in the area were urged to sign up for emergency alerts at this link.
Denver7 is committed to making a difference in our community by standing up for what's right, listening, lending a helping hand and following through on promises. See that work in action, in the videos above.
