STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. — Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued after two wildfires broke out near Steamboat Springs in Routt County Sunday.
Mandatory evacuations were earlier issued in Zones OC-522 and OC-523 in the Green Ridge Fire, before both zones were placed back under pre-evacuation notices, as of 7:20 p.m., Sunday. Residents in zones OC-521, OC-528, OC-529, OC-531, OC-536 are under pre-evacuation at this time. Click here for an interactive map of Routt County's evacuation zones. The county also issued an emergency incident map here.
An evacuation center opened Sunday until 8 p.m. at SOROCO High School, located at 305 Grant Avenue in Oak Creek. It is set to reopen Monday at 8 a.m. It is not an overnight shelter.
The first reported blaze was the Fishhook Fire, which is burning on Rabbit Ears Pass. Officials believe it sparked around noon on Sunday. As of 9 p.m. Sunday, it has burned 94 acres, according to Inciweb. Four Type 1 helicopters worked around the fire on Sunday. It is burning on National Forest land.
The Fishhook Fire is about one mile southeast of the ski resort and its smoke plume is highly visible from that area.
The second fire that sparked on Sunday was the Green Ridge Fire, which is burning on private land south of the Fishhook Fire. It is near the Stagecoach Reservoir. As of 8:45 p.m. Sunday, it has burned 44 acres, according to Watch Duty.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has verbally declared a disaster emergency in response to the Green Ridge Fire, which he said is threatening nearly 480 structures within a three-mile radius.
The cause of both fires is under investigation.
As of publishing time, no evacuations have been issued in the Fishhook Fire. However, campers and hikers in the area have been asked to prepare in case an order comes down.
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There have been no reports of injuries or structural loss.
Steamboat Resort posted the following on its website: "As we continue to monitor the Fishhook and Green Ridge fires and our community responds, Steamboat Resort will cease on-mountain operations at 3 p.m. today, Sunday June 12; including night dining at Hazie’s and cancel all scheduled public events this evening including the Captain of the Boat Downhill Bike Race and Sunset Happy Hour. Timber & Torch restaurant will still be open until 9:00pm."
The fires are also burning under challenging conditions, with hot temperatures, low humidity and dry fuels.
Temperatures in Steamboat Springs reached above 90 degrees on Sunday, with light winds.
The new fires come as at least six major wildfires continue to burn across Colorado amid dry conditions.
This is a developing story and will be updated as we learn more
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