CUSTER COUNTY, CO – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with the firefighting costs.
FEMA Acting Region 8 Administrator Nancy Dragani approved the declaration for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) at 9:45 p.m. Monday night after receiving the state’s request earlier in the day.
The authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of the state’s eligible firefighting costs. These grants do not provide assistance to individual home or business owners and do not cover other infrastructure damage caused by the fire.
The 15,751-acre Junkins Fire is zero percent contained.
The fire started at about 3:30 a.m. Monday in eastern Custer County at Junkins Park, east of Westcliffe. The fire spread rapidly because of high winds and dry conditions. The fire is now burning in both Custer and Pueblo Counties.
175 homes are under mandatory evacuation notices and 70 homes are under pre-evacuation notices.
PUEBLO COUNTY EVACUATION AREAS
- North Creek Road from County Line to Central in Beulah
- Simonson Trail
- Pre-Evacuation – Red Creek Ranch (areas of Savage Rd. & Vaughn)
- Pre-Evacuation – Beulah Valley
CUSTER COUNTY EVACUATION AREAS
- County Roads 358, 385, 387, 389
- Eagle Springs Ranch subdivision
- Hwy 165 from Mckenzie Junction (MM1) to Hwy 78 (12 mile rd), including campgrounds and hunting camps
- Hwy 96 McKenzie Junction to CR 390
- Greenwood Rd. (CR 389) and Babcock Hole (CR 388)
- Pre-evacuation: CR 390 north to the Fremont County line
EVACUATION CENTERS
- Shelter for Westcliffe evacuees at Valley Bible Fellowship in Silver Cliff
- Shelter for Wetmore evacuees at 1st Southern Baptist Church at 305 E. 3rd St in Florence
- Shelter for large and small animals in Custer County – Custer County Fairgrounds, Draper Ranch
- Shelter for Pueblo County evacuees at Ad Palace, Colorado State Fairgrounds
- Shelter for large animals in Pueblo County – Colorado State Fairgrounds horse arena, gate 6
- Shelter for small animals in Pueblo County – Pueblo Animal Services at 4600 Eagle Ridge Place in Pueblo
The cause of the fire remains unknown, but officials said there was a power line in the area that had been knocked down by high winds.
Fire crews said their main priority at this point is protecting residents, firefighters, and structures. 80 fire personnel and two air tankers are responding, with more on the way.
Fire officials said four structures have been lost, including one home and three other structures.
Health officials are warning people with respiratory problems to stay indoors because of smoke in eastern Custer County, southeastern Fremont County, and the entirety of Pueblo County. Locations include Greenwood, Wetmore, Coal Creek, Rockvale, Williamsburg, Florence, Penrose, Pueblo, and Beulah.
First State Bank of Colorado Westcliffe Branch has an account set up for financial donations. Custer County Share Center at 120 N. 3rd St. in Westcliffe will take non-perishable food donations.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife says that 75 licenses have been sold for the current hunting season in the area of the Junkins Fire. Hunters are asked to check in with evacuation centers to let emergency personnel know they are safe.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
Source: KOAA News 5. See more at KOAA.com.
