Highland Lakes fire: one home destroyed and 700 ordered to evacuate

A wildfire, so far destroying one home and putting 700 others under mandatory evacuation orders, started on Monday evening in Divide.

The fire, dubbed the Highland Lakes fire, started in Teller County, situated on the western slope of Pikes Peak. On Monday at 7 p.m., the fire was burning on 90 acres and was 0 percent contained. According to the Teller County’s website, the fire has grown slightly to cover 160 acres and is about 15 percent contained as of Tuesday afternoon.

Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell noted that the fire was started by a person, who will have to face felony arson charges. The incident is under active criminal investigation, and no further information has been released.

County officials declared the fire a disaster emergency late on Monday and have been in contact with Gov. Jared Polis in order to receive resources from the state. Over 100 firefighters from almost a dozen local agencies are helping to quell the fire.

The evacuation order displaced around 2,100 people, and the county has been placed under a stage 3 fire ban, ruling out any open flame outside, including cigarettes.

“We feel comfortable that we actually have the start of good containment, but, today, because of the fire conditions, we’re going to be very aggressive,” said Mikesell during the briefing on Tuesday morning.

The fire, according to fire officials, is particularly aggressive due to strong winds and fuel from plenty of grasses. The fire took virtually no time to spread from the grass to trees Monday night. But, the area got some rain early on Tuesday, which helped to subdue the flames.

The moisture’s relief likely won’t last for long, though. Mikesell warned that the area will see sustained winds, ranging from 50 to 55 mph, throughout Tuesday.

Nine areas were ordered to evacuate Monday evening: Cedar Mountain North to Golden Bell; Wayward Wind; Snowhill; Aspen Village; Broken Wheel; Alpine View; Beaver Lake Circle; Beaver Lake Place and Star View Trail. Nine others are under a pre-evacuation warning: Aspen Moor; Spring Valley subdivisions; County Road 51, both sides from County Road 5 to County Road 512; Grand View subdivision; County Road 5 north of County Road 51, both sides; County Road 5 south of County Road 51, west side only; Forest Service Road 357, both sides; Copper Lake Drive and Buck Lake Drive.

Both County Road 51 and 511 and closed for fire operations between Country Road 5 and County Road 512.

An evacuation center has been made available at Woodland Park Community Church located at 800 Valley View Drive.

Regarding animal evacuations, the sheriff’s office is asking that farm animals be taken to the Teller County Fairgrounds in Cripple Creek, and smaller animals to the Teller County Regional Animal Shelter.

No injuries have been reported as of yet.

Heavy snow in the high country – hard freeze for Denver this week