Deer Creek Fire Scorches 14,000+ Acres, Expected to Spread Further into Colorado

A massive wildfire that ignited in southeastern Utah last week and crossed into southwestern Colorado has now burned more than 14,000 acres and damaged over a dozen structures. Officials say strong winds are expected to push the fire further northeast into Colorado on Wednesday.

As of Wednesday morning, the Deer Creek Fire had grown to 14,760 acres and remained just 7% contained, according to Utah Fire Info, a coalition of state and federal agencies. The fire expanded by over 1,000 acres overnight, with no increase in containment since Tuesday.

“Last night, strong winds caused an increase in fire activity that pushed the fire further into Colorado,” Utah Fire Info posted on Facebook. “No new evacuations have been ordered, but firefighters remain in Paradox, monitoring the fire’s position and continuing suppression efforts.”

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Forecasters are warning of afternoon thunderstorms from the west and southwest, bringing gusts up to 60 mph, which could further intensify the fire’s spread. Crews are focused on cooling hot spots and reinforcing containment lines along the western perimeter.

So far, the fire has damaged 11 private structures, a USDA Forest Service building, and a communications site.

The Deer Creek Fire is the largest among several active wildfires in southwestern Colorado. These fires have created thick smoke plumes, prompted evacuations in Montrose County, triggered a disaster declaration from Colorado Governor Jared Polis, and led to air quality alerts across the region.

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More than 400 personnel are now battling the blaze, using helicopters, airtankers, bulldozers, and other heavy equipment.

Elsewhere, the Wright Draw Fire has reached 448 acres, while the nearby Turner Gulch Fire has nearly matched Deer Creek in size, now burning close to 14,000 acres north of Gateway, Colorado—both are largely uncontained.

To the east, the Sowbelly Fire has grown to 2,274 acres, with containment improving to 13% as of Wednesday.

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Meanwhile, the South Rim Fire, near the southern end of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, has burned 4,160 acres. Containment data for that fire is not yet available.

This article has been carefully fact-checked by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and eliminate any misleading information. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity in our content.

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