A wildfire is burning on more than 100 acres of land in Douglas County north of Woodland Park, near Sedalia, according to U.S. Forest Service officials.
The fire sparked at about 4:29 p.m. Saturday near the Turkey Track shooting range in the Pike-San Isabel National Forest, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Luke Roberts said in a Sunday morning briefing.
As of 9 a.m. Sunday, the fire had burned about 128 acres and was 0% contained, U.S. Forest Service officials said.
Forest Service officials said the fire was human-caused, but how it started remains under investigation.
Sheriff’s deputies from Douglas and Teller counties, national forest service staff and multiple fire departments, including volunteers, were on scene at the fire just after 6 p.m. Saturday, officials said.
Hot, dry and windy conditions caused the fire to grow “very aggressively,” Roberts said.
Red Flag conditions will continue throughout the day Sunday before rain showers start in the evening. The morning’s continued dryness and wind “will test the firelines” and could cause rapid fire growth, Forest Service officials said.
The biggest concern is making sure the fire doesn’t cross Colorado 67, Roberts said.
The east side of the highway is home to multiple campgrounds and popular hiking areas, including Rainbow Falls. Preevacuation orders were issued for the area at about 6:25 p.m. Saturday.
“It seems like this fire season is just getting longer and longer,” Roberts said.
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