The Willow Fire burning in the Mount Massive Wilderness west of Leadville has grown to more than 4,100 acres and is now 5% contained.
The American Red Cross has closed the emergency shelter at Battle Mountain High School in Edwards. Anyone needing shelter should report to Darren Patterson Christian Academy in Buena Vista. Large animals are being evacuated to the Buena Vista Rodeo Grounds.
A Willow Fire Community Meeting will be held tonight at 6 p.m. at Lake County High School. Incident management personnel will provide an operational update and briefing, followed by a question-and-answer session. The meeting will also be streamed live on the Willow Fire Facebook page.
Meanwhile, the Gold Mountain Fire burning in Montrose, Ouray, and Gunnison counties has grown to more than 29,000 acres and is 2% contained.
The Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service remain under Stage 2 Fire Restrictions, joining Lake, Chaffee, Park, Saguache, and Fremont counties.
Under Stage 2 Fire Restrictions, all campfires are prohibited. Propane and liquid-fueled stoves equipped with an on/off valve remain permitted.
Fireworks are strictly prohibited. Chaffee County Sheriff Andy Rohrich has directed deputies to enforce the ban with zero tolerance. Violators face a $750 fine.
