A fast-moving brush fire known as the Chama Canyon fire burned roughly 117 acres on Friday, about six miles east of San Luis in Costilla County, and pushed authorities to order mandatory evacuations for residents east of town. Fire crews said the blaze had zero containment as gusty, dry conditions worked against their efforts to slow the flames.
According to Costilla County Emergency Management, officials issued a mandatory evacuation order late Friday and told people in the affected area to get out immediately. The Denver Post reported that the Chama Canyon fire was one of several fires burning across southern Colorado as fire weather ramped up.
Where Evacuations Are in Effect
Costilla County Emergency Management said the mandatory evacuation zone covers County Road L.7 and County Road N.2 in the Chama area and stretches north about three miles to Malcolm Road in the Poso. Residents inside that area were directed to travel toward San Luis and follow instructions from law enforcement and on-scene crews.
Why Fire Danger Is High
The Denver Post reported that most of Colorado sat under red-flag warnings for dangerous fire weather, with low humidity and strong winds creating a high risk of rapid spread. Those conditions, combined with dry spring grasses and brush, helped spark and grow multiple wildfires in the region this week, officials said.
How to Get Updates
Costilla County Emergency Management urged residents to sign up for local emergency alerts and to watch official county channels for shelter locations and road-closure information. Law enforcement and fire officials plan to update the evacuation status as containment improves and will announce when it is safe for residents to return.
