BENT COUNTY, Colo. — A fast-growing wildfire in southeast Colorado forced evacuations Saturday, the Las Animas/Bent County Fire Protection District said.
The fire, named the Boggsville Fire, had burned about 1,030 acres and was 80% contained as of 7:15 p.m. Sunday.
Firefighters said the fire was first reported around 10:15 a.m. Saturday on Highway 101 about two miles south of Las Animas. The fire moved quickly into the Purgatoire River bottom and east down the river.
People living along Highway 101 north of the fire were told to evacuate Saturday. The Fort Lyon Supportive Residential Community was evacuated just before 1 p.m. Firefighters said more than 200 people were evacuated to the community center in Las Animas.
The Bent County Sheriff's Office said Saturday evening that all evacuated residents could return to their homes but told them to stay on a pre-evacuation status.
The Bent County Correctional Facility was put on pre-evacuation status for about four hours Saturday, but no evacuation was needed, firefighters said.
All pre-evacuation notices were lifted by 7 p.m. Sunday. Firefighters said no structures were lost in the fire.
The Bent County Sheriff’s Office and Las Animas Fire personnel will continue to monitor the fire for the next few days.
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