GRAND COUNTY, Colo. — The East Troublesome Fire in Grand County is up to 37% containment as of Monday after burning 193,774 acres and destroying hundreds of homes.
More evacuees were allowed to return home Monday morning as firefighters continue to make progress on the blaze. The Grand County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) reopened areas to the west of Highway 34, but said road closures remain in place north of the National Park housing area near County Road 491, and areas north of mile marker 5.3 on Highway 125.
Grand County OEM on Saturday held a two-hour visitation for residents into the evacuated areas of fire, which the county's Sheriff's Office called a success.
Grand County Sheriff Brett Schroetlin in a Facebook post said not all utilities will be turned on when residents return home and there could be safety hazards in the area.
Schroetlin added the "community lost over 300 residential structures, and between 100-200 secondary structures (barns, garages, etc)" in the fire.
Firefighters called the 6-12 inches of snow that fell on the East Troublesome Fire last week a blessing, but crews are still battling the second-largest recorded wildfire in Colorado history.
Scattered pockets of isolated smoldering still exist on the fire, but no fire growth is expected Monday, according to fire officials.
Crews on Sunday identified remaining heat along the Highway 40 corridor and continued mop up operations to reinforce the fireline.
Firefighters finished work to clear East Inlet Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park, and a contingency line has been completed that will help stop fire spread if it continues to be active in the future.
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Anyone with questions about reopening can call the Grand County Emergency Operations Center at 970-725-3803.
The fire is the second-largest wildfire in Colorado history, and it burned not far from the Cameron Peak Fire, which has burned more than 200,000 acres.
The East Troublesome Fire exploded in size on Oct. 21, rapidly growing from just 24,000 acres to its current size.
Behind the East Troublesome Fire lines
Complete wildfire coverage: 9news.com/wildfires.
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