Expanding Lake Fork Elk Creek Wildfire Approaches Town of Lake City
A fast-moving wildfire, which began in Uncompahgre Wilderness Area north of Lake City due to an apparent lightning strike last Thursday, July 9, has vastly expanded resulting in mandatory evacuations of lower Lake Fork River residents near the Hinsdale-Gunnison County boundary on Wednesday afternoon this week.Up through Tuesday this week, the extent of the fire was estimated at slightly more than 500 acres, although winds at mid-week have increased the burned acreage upward to an estimated 1,980 acres with zero percent containment as of Thursday morning, July 16. Resources on the ground and air as of Thursday morning are 223 personnel, six helicopters, three hand crews, and 22 engines.Lake City and Lake Fork Valley residents are in general on edge because of the fire which in addition to expansion from continued drought and gusty winds this week, has produced dense smoke creating some of the worst air quality in the entire state.Mandatory lower Lake Fork evacuations on WandreyWednesday, July 15, impacted Jeff Moler at the old Ryan Ranch and his immediate neighbors, Alena and Randy Haskell, and — more distantly — Tom and Jeannie Russell at Russellville, Scott and Becky Williams and at the County border, Rich Landry.Sky Ranch at
