Hogback fire in Jefferson County and 403 fire in Park and Teller

Firefighters continued working on two wildfires Saturday, one in the metro area and the other in Park and Teller counties.

Improved weather conditions, with diminished winds, helped firefighters in their efforts working on the Hogback fire in Jefferson County. The area of the 403 fire, which started Thursday about 8 miles south of Lake George, remained in a red flag warning for critical fire conditions Saturday.

Hogback fire

Saturday afternoon the Hogback fire was 30% contained and the blaze had scorched 44 acres south of Interstate 70, west of C-470 and north of Alameda Avenue, according to the West Metro Fire Protection District.

The wildfire broke out Friday afternoon on the west side of the hogback, near Matthews/Winters Park, part of Jefferson County Open Space, and the wind-blown fire raced up hill and over the ridge, coming down the east side of the hogback toward C-470.

Firefighters from metro area agencies helped to fight the fire Friday in strong winds and during a red-flag warning on fire danger. Roads in the area that were closed Friday reopened Saturday. Friday’s preevacuation notices for residents in the area were lifted.

No one was injured by the fire, and firefighters continued working the fire Saturday.

403 fire

The 403 fire had burned 1,286 acres as of Saturday afternoon, according to fire officials. Evacuation orders for residents in Park and Teller counties remained in effect Saturday. Fire containment is about 25%.

Authorities classified the 403 fire as “human caused,” saying it started on private land along Park County Road 403, southwest of the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. Local, state and federal resources are being used to fight the 403 fire.

A red-flag warning for critical fire danger remained in effect Saturday in the area of the 403 fire, where the relative humidity was about 15% and winds in the 25 to 35 mph range with gusts up to 50 mph.

A helicopter made several water drops on the fire Saturday morning before winds pickup up and the helicopter was grounded for safety concerns, fire officials said. No structures have been burned and no injuries or deaths reported in the fire.

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