This article is about the wildfire in Costilla County, Colorado. For the wildfire in Ventura County, California, see Springs Fire. For a novel released by Vin Packer, see Spring Fire.
The Spring Creek Fire was a wildfire near Fort Garland and La Veta, Colorado in Costilla and Huerfano[3] counties in southern Colorado. The fire burned a total of 108,045 acres (437 square kilometers)[2] and was the third-largest wildfire in Colorado history.[4]
The Spring Creek Fire started on Wednesday, June 27, 2018 near Fort Garland, Colorado.[5] Jesper Jørgensen (modified to Joergensen or Jorgensen in English), 52, a citizen of Denmark and reported by immigration authorities as being in the United States illegally because he had overstayed his visa, has been arrested and faces arson charges for allegedly starting the fire.[3] He had been using a fire pit to grill food while camping in rural Colorado. Jørgensen claimed he was unaware of the open fire ban. He had presumed the fire in the pit was fully extinguished, but was woken from his afternoon nap by the smell of smoke a few hours later. He initially attempted to extinguish it himself, getting minor burns in the process, and when that failed he called 911. When the first firefighters arrived the fire had already engulfed trees and vegetation.[6] The blaze was declared 100% contained on September 10, 2018. More than 140 structures were destroyed in the fire.[2]
Shortly after his arrest in June 2018, Jørgensen was declared mentally incompetent, causing a delay in his case.[7]
Evacuationsedit
The Forbes Park neighborhood near Fort Garland was under mandatory evacuations during the fire.[8]
In Huerfano County, mandatory evacuations were ordered for Cuchara, Chama, Red Wing, Malachite, and Badito south of Highway 69. The community of Gardner was placed on "pre-evacuation" for a time.[9]
^ ab"Spring Creek Fire". InciWeb. US Forest Service. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
^ abcKackley, Tom (September 10, 2018). "Spring Fire now officially 100 percent contained". KOAA News 5. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
^ abPaul, Jesse (July 2, 2018). "Spring Creek fire suspect reported blaze and had burn marks as he spoke to authorities, arrest documents say". The Denver Post. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
^Sevits, Kurt (July 4, 2017). "Spring Fire now the 3rd largest in Colorado history at more than 94,000 acres". Denver7 & TheDenverChannel.com. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
^Case, Angela (June 29, 2018). "Spring Fire grows to 14,424 acres; Highway 160 closed". KXRM. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
^Phillips, Karen (June 13, 2018). "A man told authorities he started a fire to grill his food. He's now facing 141 counts of arson". Washington Post. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
^Stacy, Sharron (January 16, 2020). "Denmark immigrant due in court today". KYDN. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
^"Hundreds Evac Ahead of Fast-Moving CO Blaze". Firehouse. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
^"New Mandatory Evacuations Issued In Spring Fire". 4 CBS Denver. July 2, 2018. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
External linksedit
Satellite image of the burn scar
This wildfire-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
spring, creek, fire, 2018, this, article, about, wildfire, costilla, county, colorado, wildfire, ventura, county, california, springs, fire, novel, released, packer, spring, fire, spring, creek, fire, wildfire, near, fort, garland, veta, colorado, costilla, hu. This article is about the wildfire in Costilla County Colorado For the wildfire in Ventura County California see Springs Fire For a novel released by Vin Packer see Spring Fire The Spring Creek Fire was a wildfire near Fort Garland and La Veta Colorado in Costilla and Huerfano 3 counties in southern Colorado The fire burned a total of 108 045 acres 437 square kilometers 2 and was the third largest wildfire in Colorado history 4 Spring Creek FireThe burn scar west of Highway 12 LocationCostilla and Huerfano counties Colorado United StatesCoordinates37 26 46 24 N 105 10 28 68 W 37 4461778 N 105 1746333 W 37 4461778 105 1746333Statistics 1 Date s June 27 2018 2018 06 27 September 10 2018 2018 09 10 Burned area108 045 acres 437 km2 1 CauseArsonBuildings destroyed140 2 Perpetrator s alleged Jesper JoergensenMapThe fire s location in southern Colorado Contents 1 Origin and trial 2 Evacuations 3 See Also 4 References 5 External linksOrigin and trial editThe Spring Creek Fire started on Wednesday June 27 2018 near Fort Garland Colorado 5 Jesper Jorgensen modified to Joergensen or Jorgensen in English 52 a citizen of Denmark and reported by immigration authorities as being in the United States illegally because he had overstayed his visa has been arrested and faces arson charges for allegedly starting the fire 3 He had been using a fire pit to grill food while camping in rural Colorado Jorgensen claimed he was unaware of the open fire ban He had presumed the fire in the pit was fully extinguished but was woken from his afternoon nap by the smell of smoke a few hours later He initially attempted to extinguish it himself getting minor burns in the process and when that failed he called 911 When the first firefighters arrived the fire had already engulfed trees and vegetation 6 The blaze was declared 100 contained on September 10 2018 More than 140 structures were destroyed in the fire 2 Shortly after his arrest in June 2018 Jorgensen was declared mentally incompetent causing a delay in his case 7 Evacuations editThe Forbes Park neighborhood near Fort Garland was under mandatory evacuations during the fire 8 In Huerfano County mandatory evacuations were ordered for Cuchara Chama Red Wing Malachite and Badito south of Highway 69 The community of Gardner was placed on pre evacuation for a time 9 See Also edit nbsp United States portal nbsp Colorado portal416 Fire Lake Christine Fire Weston Pass Fire Pine Gulch Fire Cameron Peak Fire largest fire in state historyReferences edit a b Spring Creek Fire InciWeb US Forest Service Retrieved July 13 2018 a b c Kackley Tom September 10 2018 Spring Fire now officially 100 percent contained KOAA News 5 Retrieved September 11 2018 a b Paul Jesse July 2 2018 Spring Creek fire suspect reported blaze and had burn marks as he spoke to authorities arrest documents say The Denver Post Retrieved July 2 2018 Sevits Kurt July 4 2017 Spring Fire now the 3rd largest in Colorado history at more than 94 000 acres Denver7 amp TheDenverChannel com Retrieved July 4 2018 Case Angela June 29 2018 Spring Fire grows to 14 424 acres Highway 160 closed KXRM Retrieved June 29 2018 Phillips Karen June 13 2018 A man told authorities he started a fire to grill his food He s now facing 141 counts of arson Washington Post Retrieved February 14 2020 Stacy Sharron January 16 2020 Denmark immigrant due in court today KYDN Retrieved February 14 2020 Hundreds Evac Ahead of Fast Moving CO Blaze Firehouse Retrieved June 29 2018 New Mandatory Evacuations Issued In Spring Fire 4 CBS Denver July 2 2018 Retrieved July 2 2018 External links editOfficial National Wildfire Coordinating Group website for the fire Satellite image of the burn scar nbsp This wildfire related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Spring Creek Fire 2018 amp oldid 1168634195, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
