Schwachheim Fire Near Colorado–New Mexico Border Grows to 646 Acres With No Containment

Overview

• The wildfire in the Lake Dorothey State Wildlife Area reached an estimated 646 acres with zero containment Tuesday, fire officials said.
• A Colorado Type 3 incident management team assumed command at 6 a.m. Tuesday as more than 100 firefighters worked with air tankers and helicopters.
• Erratic winds, very low humidity near 10%, and steep drainages drove overnight growth, with the National Weather Service flagging critical fire weather through Tuesday evening.
• Lake Dorothey remains closed and a temporary flight restriction bars drones and other aircraft so aerial crews can safely operate; nearby towns have Stage 2 fire restrictions.
• Gov. Jared Polis verbally declared a disaster emergency Monday following Sunday’s first report near the border, with mutual aid arriving from Raton, New Mexico, and the cause still unknown.