#403Fire: Wildfire in Park County, Evacuation Ordered near CR 403

Teller County Situational Awareness Map: teller-county.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webap...4e02846a1b225331ee68

Posted on: March 31, 2023
Red Flag Warning and Stage 1 Burn Ban Continues Until 7 PM


Park County, CO - A Red Flag Warning and Stage 1 Burn Ban continues in Park County until 7 PM tonight. Please use extreme caution as fires will start easily and spread rapidly today throughout the county and region. Click here to view the interactive National Weather Service map.

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Teller County Sheriff's Office media briefing has been rescheduled to 9am.

Teller County Sheriff's Office
20m
At the 9:00 a.m. media briefing we will have a deputy available in case you have to return to your residence to pick up medication or animals. They will take your information and find out what subdivision you live in and having another deputy escort you to your residence.

Donations are needed for both Park County and Teller County. You can drop off Park County donations at the Lake George fire station. And drop off Teller County donations to the Sheriff's Office in Divide. Eye drops, cough drops, water and Gatorade. We appreciate all your support and thank you for everything.

KOAA5: Fire officials in Park County are now expected to provide an update on the #403Fire at 9 am. News5 will bring you the event live on our streaming platforms. Get updates and watch live here: tinyurl.com/ParkCountyFire

TCRAS (Teller County Animal Shelter)
57m
Good morning. We are in need of paper towels and bleach here at the shelter. Donations can be dropped off at the shelter located at 308 Weaverville Road Divide Co 80814.

We are open for anyone who has been evacuated and needs a place for their small animals.
If we need more supplies we will update everyone. Thank you for helping us help our community

TCSO spoke with residents at 9am, said they'd do a livestream media briefing afterward. Still waiting for that to begin.

From Teller County 411
8min ago
31 Mar 2023 9:23 am - Very short briefing
Sheriff Mikesell - No containment, roughly 1,100 acres . No changes in Evacuations or Pre-Evacuations. High is expected to be 38 degrees today. Wind is expected to be sustained of 27 mph with gust of 50 mph or more.

That is all that was shared.

Teller County Animal Control
1hr ago

Good Friday morning, it’s time for an informational update from Teller County Animal Control.

First and foremost, please pay attention to the Teller County Sheriffs Office updates. Animal Control will be busy and will not be on social media. Do not call animal control directly. We will likely not be in cell service.

If you are being evacuated, the teller county regional animal shelter is open and can assist with dogs and cats.

If you need assistance moving livestock, please contact the Sheriff’s office so they can dispatch us to your area.

OK folks this is your warning for the upcoming wildland fire season. It is now time for you to prepare yourself and your household for immediate evacuation. If you’ve been paying attention to this fire, it went from its point of origin to 1000 acres in just a few hours.

Is your insurance on your home and vehicles up-to-date? Do you have digital copies of all your pertinent and important paperwork in an area that is not inside your home? Are your animals ready to go? Are your animals vaccinated? Do they have collars with her identifying information on them? If you have livestock, do you have food, water, and all the necessary equipment that you would need to rapidly transport them someplace and sustain them? Is your address clearly marked at the intersection of the road and your driveway?

If the answer to any of these questions is no or I don’t know now is the time to address that. You may not get any warning. Imagine the folks that were at work down in the springs yesterday only to find out there’s a raging wildfire approaching their properties while they are an hour away or more.

Teller County 411
39m ago
31 Mar 2023 9:30 am Added to the briefing - Park County Sheriff Office and U.S. Forest Service

Park County -
- Resident called in fire
- Lake George Fire was first on scene 30 Mar 2023 at 11:15 am
- Guffey, Hartsel, & Florrisant Fire joined in.
- Cause/Origin of fire investigation will start in about an hour by the Forest Service
- If you need emergency items from your home, like medication, you can drive to the nearest road block and can be escorted to and from your home to get those items.
- Park County Evacuations are Pike Forest, Saddle Mountain Ranch, Blue Mountain Ranch and residents along CR 403
- Park County Road Closures - CR 403, CR 98 East of CR 61
- Park County Road 100 is open
- Donations can be dropped off at Lake George Fire
Forest Service -
- MMA Flight was able to fly last night and how the maps have the burn area, about 1,100 acres. Wind this morning prevented a new fly over.
- 12:01 am 31 Mar 2023 Transfer of Command to Jason Miller of the U.S. Forest Service
- If the winds cooperate, they hope to have air support today.
Objectives for today are Safety of first responders, Protect private property and infrastructure, put out timely information.
- Currently crews from Park County, Teller County, local US Forest Service and outside US Forest Service are working this fire.
- They have established lines to start protecting, but no containment reported as of now.
- A Facebook page for this fire will be created today.

Elk Creek Fire Brush 451 left early this morning to assist on the #403fire. Both staff and volunteers are staffing the engine and we wish then safety as they deal with the potential for winds gusting to 50mph.

The graphic from the National Weather Service below shows the location of the 403 Fire.

Further info can be found at Park County, Colorado and Teller County Sheriff's Office.

As of 11 AM, the 403 wildfire has reached over 1,100 acres. Park County evacuations remain in place until further notice. The county is in a Red Flag Warning and Stage 1 Burn Ban until 7 PM. There is an Air Quality Alert in place due to the wildfire smoke. All of County Road 403 is closed and County Road 98 east of County Road 61 is closed.

Ongoing updates will be provided as soon as possible. The emergency shelter for Park County residents is open at the Lake George Community Center located at 39141 US Highway 24, Lake George, CO 80827. Large animals and livestock may go to the Lake George Fairgrounds located at 37371 Highway 24 in Lake George, CO 80827. Small animals (dogs and cats) are welcomed at the Teller County Animal Shelter located at 308 Weaverville Rd, Divide, CO. Please call TCAS at 719-868-7707 with questions.
Evacuated Park County residents, please call 719-836-4200 for updates.
parkco.us/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=898&PREVIEW=true

Teller County Sheriff's Office Fire Briefing:


Officials provide an update on the 403 Fire Friday morning - Videos
By Riley Carroll, KRDO
Published March 31, 2023 8:34 AM

According to officials, the fire has not officially moved into Teller County, but the sheriff's office and crews are prepared for when that might happen.

PSICC Blog
403 Fire

Update: The fire is now at 1205 acres with resources getting in place with the goal of limiting fire grow. The Forest Service has taken charge today as of 1200am. Maximum temperature of 38 degrees with winds 28 to 38 gusting to 52 mph.

Time Reported: 3/30/2023 11:04 am

Size: 1205 acres
Location: Park County, South Park Road, off CR 403, 8 miles South of Lake George, CO.
Jurisdiction: Park and Teller County & Forest Service
Resources: Park and Teller County & USFS resources. Dept. of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) Aviation resources may not fly due to strong winds.
Containment:
Controlled:
Structures Threatened: Yes.
Evacuation: Yes. Residents in the 1 mile area of County Road 403 and Alpine Meadow Lane are advised to evacuate immediately due to a fire in the area. This is a full and immediate evacuation – residents are asked to leave immediately. More information can be found on Park County website.
www.parkco.us/AlertCenter.aspx?AID=Evacu...Residents-Near-CR-53
Closures: unknown
Cause: unknown; under investigation
Fuels: Grass, ponderosa pine, piñon and juniper
#403Fire_Co