Evacuations Ordered as Willow Fire Expands Near Leadville, Colorado

Authorities in Colorado issued new evacuation and pre-evacuation orders as the Willow Fire near Leadville expanded significantly. Within a 24-hour period, the fire grew by nearly 1,000 acres, prompting action.

The latest evacuation order affects Halfmoon Road, a key access point for camping spots and the trailhead to Mount Massive, which is the second highest peak in Colorado. Fire officials, including Nick Castro from the Southwest Area Complex Incident Management Team, are leading efforts to control the blaze. In a video, Castro indicated the fire had expanded by around 900 acres by Sunday morning.

Fire crews worked Saturday to utilize Halfmoon Road as a potential barrier against the southward spread of the fire. Strategies included controlled burns and slurry drops from aircraft. Castro mentioned on Saturday that they planned to direct the fire toward higher elevations with less available fuel using natural terrain features.

On Sunday, fire command placed Zone 6A under a mandatory evacuation. All individuals in these areas were required to evacuate by noon on Sunday. Meanwhile, Zones 1, 4, 7, and 9 were advised to prepare for a possible evacuation.

Additional areas received warnings, including those south and southeast of the fire. This includes the northern part of Twin Lakes and the eastern area of State Highway 82 up to Independence Pass. Pre-evacuation zones now extend to the boundary with Chaffee County.

New shelters for evacuees were set up at the Buena Vista Public Safety Complex and Battle Mountain High School. Additionally, the Leadville Regional Airport is closed to non-fire-related air traffic and emergency operations. Nick Castro noted the southern boundary of the fire presented significant challenges, citing extreme dryness and record-low fuel moistures.

The Willow Fire began on June 28 in the Twin Mounds area, located between Mount Massive and Leadville. As of Sunday, the fire covers approximately 3,957 acres with only 1% containment. Previously, the fire measured 2,969 acres on Saturday morning, and the cause remains unknown.

Volunteers are assisting in distributing donations to residents from areas affected by the fire, providing crucial support during this time.