UPDATE: Crews make progress on High Park Fire over the weekend – FOX21News.com

UPDATE: At a town hall meeting on Tuesday, fire officials announced that the High Park fire in Teller County is now 70% contained.

UPDATE (Tuesday): According to fire crews, the High Park Fire currently burning in Teller County is now 37% contained, up 10% from progress made over the weekend.

So far, crews say, the fire has burned almost 1,600 acres.

Helicopters continue to make water drops over the area, focusing on the southern end of the fire.

About 400 people and 75 businesses are under evacuation or pre-evacuation status.

A federal incident management team took the lead on the High Park Fire over the weekend.

UPDATE: Crews fighting the High Park Fire in Teller County provided an update of their progress on Monday.

Yesterday was a really good day, said Lathan Johnson of Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 1. We were able to continue to secure a lot of line.

Johnson said the fire began to move south, which he clarified was helpful to crews on scene because thats easier terrain.

UPDATE: The fire has grown to 1,558 acres and is 27% contained. Helicopters continue running dip and drop cycles delivering water over areas of heat, primarily in the southern end of the fire.

TELLER COUNTY, Colo. The High Park Fire in Teller County, which sparked on May 12, 2022, has burned 1,499 acres and is now 27% contained. The countys sheriffs department has reported no structures have been lost as 180 personnel fight the flames, with additional support on the way.

A federal Incident Management Team took command of the fire on Sunday. Teller County Commissioner Dan Williams has asked Governor Jared Polis to declare a state disaster.

Dozens of people in Teller County are still under evacuation orders.

There is, as yet, no word on what started the High Park Fire.

UPDATE: More photos of the fire and burned areas.

UPDATE: Videos show helicopters dousing hot spots of the High Park Fire with buckets of water.

UPDATE: Pre-evacuation notices are in effect for Rhyolite Mountain Mesa, Monarch and Lost Canyon. An evacuation shelter has been set up at Woodland Park High School. Livestock can be taken to Cripple Creek Fairgrounds.

County Road 11 is closed from milepost 3 to County Road 112.

The Teller County Sheriffs Office will have a community town hall meeting at 1 p.m. at Cripple Creek Victor High School.

The fires increase in size is due to a combination of firing operations to secure indirect fireline and wind-driven fire, according to Mykell Kroll, Fremont County Director of Emergency Management. It is burning in ponderosa pine and grass in steep, rocky terrain with High Park Road to the west and Fourmile Creek to the east. The fire has been most active at the southeast corner of the fire perimeter where it spotted across Fourmile Creek.

Firefighters will continue to patrol and mop up heat sources to secure the fires edge in all sections of the fire.

Helicopters and air attack platforms will continue to support the firefighting effort with aerial observation and bucket drops.

UPDATE: The fire has increased to 1,172 acres with 10% containment. The briefing for this morning has been cancelled.

UPDATE: A video of a press conference with the Teller County Sheriffs office has been released below.

UPDATE: At a briefing early morning, the Teller County Sheriffs Office stated the fire was over 1,000 acres and is 10% contained. There will be another briefing for evacuated individuals at Florissant fire station at 1 p.m.

TELLER COUNTY, Colo. The High Park fire burned back on itself on Friday, forcing new mandatory and pre-evacuation orders and closing down roads in the area.

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UPDATE: Crews make progress on High Park Fire over the weekend - FOX21News.com