SITUATION REPORT 2006-8
Colorado Wildfires
Report Date: June 20, 2006
Event Type: Wildland fires
Situation: Wildfire updates…Numerous starts in Colorado reported. Most contained or nearing containment and/or non-threatening to structures (life & property). Teller County is battling a wildfire near Wright Reservoir that started about midnight. The blaze is more than 100 acres and is about 30 percent contained.
Mato Vega Fire (Costilla County) This presumed lightning-caused fire started the evening of June 18. It has grown to an estimated 4,400 acres and is located eight miles east of Fort Garland on the northwest side of Highway 160. The fire is moving north/northeast. Highway 160 was closed by CDOT between Fort Garland and La Veta Pass to create a fire line. Firefighters burned vegetation along the highway late Monday as officials ordered mandatory evacuations affecting two subdivisions in northeast Costilla County and one in Huerfano County.
No homes have been destroyed and no injuries have been reported.
A Type II Incident Management Team took charge of the fire Monday evening. F ive single-engine air tankers, a heavy air tanker, and two helicopters were providing air support to approximately 240 firefighters assigned to the fire. No containment has been reported.
The Red Cross opened two shelters for evacuees near the town of Fort Garland.
A fire management assistance declaration from FEMA was requested by the State Forest Service and approved on June 19, 2006, at 12:40 AM MDT. (FEMA-2646-FM-CO).
Weather Report: The general forecast across the state calls for high temperatures, low humidity, and high winds. The National Weather Service has issued Red Flag Warnings throughout the state.
Agencies Involved: Costilla County, Alamosa Fire, Costilla Sheriff, Huerfano County, Huerfano Sheriff, Colorado State Forest Service, U.S. Forest Service, CDOT, Red Cross, Salvation Army
Additional Assistance Requested: None at this time.