PUEBLO, Colo., Oct. 4 (UPI) — Nearly 2,000 people have been evacuated in the past two days as a wildfire has surrounded the town of Beulah, Colo.
The Pueblo County Sheriff issued a stern warning to people in and near the town Monday night to evacuate while the fire died down overnight, based on concerns it could grow worse.
The grass fire has scorched 3,000 acres of the Beulah Valley and destroyed seven structures, though officials report there have been no injuries as a result of the blaze.
The fire was first reported just after noon on Monday, with evacuations slowly starting around 6 p.m. and increasing over the course of the following two hours to include the evacuation of more than 500 homes.
“I feel it is necessary to move people to safety while the routes are clear and the manpower is available,” Pueblo County Sheriff Kirk Taylor said in a statement.
“Waiting any longer means we may miss the best window we have, people may sleep through the critical evacuation message if we wait. Acting now is important to protect people. This fire is on both sides of the valley and if either flank moves toward the valley, we may lose lives.”
The Pueblo County Health Department issued an air quality warning for residents remaining in the area to stay indoors if smoke decreases visibility, which is a primary indication of smoke becoming a threat to health.
