Conejos County evacuated due to a wildfire | Menkhaven Fire Has Burned Roughly 200 Acres
Conejos County evacuated due to a wildfire. Parts of Conejos County have been ordered to evacuate due to a wildfire blazing north of Fox Creek, Colorado.
According to officials with the San Luis Valley Emergency Management Agency, the Menkhaven fire had grown to 197 acres as of Saturday evening. Officials have ordered all residents north of Colorado 17 from Fox Creek to Horca to evacuate.
The fire was initially reported on Saturday along Highway 17, about 7 miles northwest of Fox Creek, with roughly 20 acres. Containment efforts were hampered by dry fuels and wind gusts of up to 30 mph.
- The Colorado-New Mexico border is about a half-hour drive from Fox Creek.
Three air tankers are also on the scene, according to emergency personnel. Firefighters from the U.S. National Forest Service in the Rio Grande are aiding. The tankers dropped multiple cargoes of fire retardant on Saturday and will return with several helicopters on Sunday, according to forest service authorities. Conejos County evacuated due to a wildfire.
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Forecasters with the National Weather Service in Pueblo had warned earlier Saturday that the San Luis Valley and the mid-Arkansas River Valley will experience severe fire weather conditions throughout the holiday weekend. Cooler temperatures and decreased relative humidity are expected to improve the weather on Saturday night.
However, The wind will continue to be a concern in firefighting efforts, with gusts of up to 40 miles per hour expected, according to forest service authorities.
Due to smoke from the fire, the Colorado Department of Public Health issued an air quality advisory for southern Conejos County on Saturday night.
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Colorado Wildfire Map (Conejos County Evacuated due to a Wildfire)
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You can find Colorado Wildfire Map here: fireweatheravalanche.org
Public Health Recommendations | Conejos County Evacuated due to a Wildfire
According to public health recommendations, remain indoors if smoke is thick or grows thick in your neighborhood. This is particularly true for people who have heart problems, respiratory disorders, are extremely young, or are elderly. When moderate to heavy smoke is prevalent, minimize outside activity. If smoke is present indoors and makes you sick, consider temporarily relocating. Smoke levels in your neighborhood have reached unhealthy levels if visibility is less than 5 miles.
The Menkhaven wildfire, which is located along Highway 17 in Conejos County about 6 miles northwest of Fox Creek, is likely to produce moderate to heavy smoke. Smoke will begin to drain down the Conejos River overnight Saturday, perhaps bringing periods of heavy smoke to Fox Creek early Sunday morning.
Consider these wildfire safety tips before, during, and after the flames.
- Activities involving open flames or sparks should be avoided.
- Avoid using power tools that produce sparks.
- Burn bans must be followed.
- Dispose of smokes properly.
- Keep your vehicle away from the dry grasses.
- To report a fire or smoke, dial 911.
