DURANGO, Colo. (KKTV) – According to reports, a portion of highway north of Durango has been closed. A wildfire that has struck that area is continuing to grow, and on a 10-mile segment of the road, the traffic has been shut down.
At approximately 10 a.m. Friday the 416 Fire started in the region of Highway 550 on the west side. By 8 p.m. it managed to grow covering about 1,100 acres. With the fire at only 10 miles north of Durango, officials were forced to order the evacuation of one subdivision while the pre-evacuations were set for another. Total of 825 residences were evacuated while there were 750 pre-evacuation notices issued as of Friday night.
With an exceptional drought that hit the area, the county manager decided to declare a state of local disaster.
South of Purgatory Ski Resort, Highway 550 was closed in both directions all the way to the north of Hermosa. The closure starts from mile marker 38 and goes to marker 48. An alternative route has been offered, and it leads you to County Road 250.
Source: www.kktv.com
More links:
https://durangoherald.com/articles/226426
https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dfpc/current-wildfires
Rapidly Growing 416 Fire Forces More Evacuations Near Durango
View of #416Fire from Electra Lake, area now evacuated. Hwy 550 closed N of #Durango btwn #Hermosa and @skipurg & CR250 closed to N- & S-bound traffic, evacuees should head north on Hwy 550. For updates: @SanJuanNF @LaPlataCountyCO @ColoradoDOT @DurangoFire @DurangoHerald pic.twitter.com/0CR8sNYJAi
— Trails2000 (@DgoTrails2000) June 1, 2018
Fire from Highway 550 and CR 250. pic.twitter.com/a3FjmIsx8m
— Alex Semadeni (@awsemadeni) June 1, 2018
#416Fire north of Hermosa, #COwx seen on Day Cloud Phase Distinction RGB Satellite imagery. Smoke seen in green and the fire is seen in light blue. Strong west winds shifting to the northwest this evening. pic.twitter.com/9JOyrNPZe5
— NWS Grand Junction (@NWSGJT) June 1, 2018
#416Fire information and more photos available https://t.co/6ky2It4DDg pic.twitter.com/T5klvOmoKX
— SanJuanNF (@SanJuanNF) June 2, 2018
Update on the🔥 #416Fire 🔥#416Fire evacuees need to exit NORTH on U.S. Highway 550 – fire behavior has prompted a change. Do not head south on U.S. Highway 550
Alt Text: #416Fire from HWY 550 just below Glacier Point
📷 USFS Public Information Officer pic.twitter.com/1TD7OaCXPr— SanJuanNF (@SanJuanNF) June 1, 2018
The 416 fire continues burning north of Hermosa to the west of US Hwy 550 as winds pick up. pic.twitter.com/wTVQKjbcI9
— jerry mcbride (@jerryphotog) June 1, 2018
@LaPlataCountyCO Manager Joanne Spina declares a state of local disaster due to #416Fire an exceptional drought pic.twitter.com/2QgaJviTRC
— La Plata County, CO (@LaPlataCountyCO) June 2, 2018
Here's the latest loop of smoke from the #416Fire north of Durango. You can see it right along Highway 550 below the word Purgatory. #COwx #4wx @COFire pic.twitter.com/HjTABspuYz
— Chris Spears (@ChrisCBS4) June 1, 2018
#416Fire update: Electra Lake south to Baker’s Bridge evacuated. North Electra Lake to Meadow View Drive, including Purgatory, Durango Mountain Resort and Cascade Village under pre-evacuation. Details: https://t.co/gD1L7SGKwm pic.twitter.com/RVnWdO8k3T
— La Plata County, CO (@LaPlataCountyCO) June 1, 2018
