The Blue Ridge Fire broke out Friday afternoon in a neighborhood north of Bayfield.
BAYFIELD, Colo. — Evacuation orders issued Friday near Bayfield because of a new wildfire in southwest Colorado have now been lifted.
La Plata County officials said Friday evening that firefighters made strong progress against the Blue Ridge Fire, which started in the Forest Lakes subdivision north of Bayfield. The fire grew to about 25 acres, but crews “nearly encircled” it and confirmed no homes are currently at risk.
By 6 p.m. Friday, evacuation orders were lifted for more than 900 homes. Residents in the Hilltop Drive area, who were under mandatory evacuation, have been allowed to return, though the area remains on pre-evacuation status.
The rest of the Forest Lakes subdivision, along with Beaver Meadows and homes along Bear Creek Canyon Road, also remain on pre-evacuation notice.
La Plata County continues to update evacuation maps on its website.
The Upper Pine River Fire Protection District, Durango Fire Protection District, and the U.S. Forest Service are responding to the blaze.
The Blue Ridge Fire is one of several wildfires burning across Colorado, mostly on the Western Slope. Together, the fires have scorched more than 200,000 acres. The largest, the Lee Fire near Meeker, has burned over 133,000 acres and ranks as the fifth-largest wildfire in Colorado history.
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Katie is a senior who has been on staff for three years. Her favorite type of stories to write is reviews and features. Katie’s favorite ice cream flavor is strawberry.
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