PUEBLO COUNTY, CO – The Beulah Hill Fire in Pueblo County was started by a CDOT excavator during routine maintenance work. A worker was moving stone to fix a drainage ditch when he noticed the fire. The worker tried to put out the fire and called 911, but with high winds Monday, there was little he could do to extinguish it.
So far, the blaze has scorched 5,200 acres, and is 75% contained. It has destroyed eight homes and six outbuildings. About 1,950 residents and 700 homes have been evacuated.
Governor John Hickenlooper declared a disaster emergency in Pueblo County because the fire. A disaster assistance center at the state fairgrounds 4H building is open today to provide evacuated residents with food boxes, tetanus shots, and other assistance.
People living on 3R Road, south of Highway 78 and in the Signal Mountain subdivision were allowed back in their homes last night. More evacuations are expected to be lifted in the coming days. Residents will need a re-entry pass, which can be picked up at the 4H Building at the State Fairgrounds in Pueblo.
All roads in the Signal Mountain subdivision will be closed from 8 a.m. To 9 a.m. today to allow for movement of fire equipment.
