KUSA – The Colorado Department of Transportation sent out a news release Monday afternoon about a topic that probably shouldn’t need to be said, but here we are.
Basically, they’re reminding the public not to stop, park or stand outside their vehicles on U.S. Highway 550 south of Durango to look at the 416 Fire, which has grown to more than 22,000 acres and remains just 10 percent contained.
More than 2,000 homes have been ordered to evacuate due to the fast-moving blaze that started burning June 1 about 10 miles north of Durango.
Highway 550 is actually closed north of Durango, but that’s not stopping people from pulling over and checking out the fire before that, according to CDOT.
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“We understand the public is very curious about the fire,” said CDOT Maintenance Supervisor Kent Baxstrom in a news release. “But when we have vehicles stopped on the side of the road and people getting out of their cars, it is creating a hazard for fire and emergency personnel and equipment moving about in this area. This area must be kept clear and open for emergency traffic.”
So there you go: Don’t impede traffic to look at a fire.