Multiple Wildfires Scorch Southeastern Colorado, Evacuations Hit Las Animas County
Several wildfires burning in southeastern Colorado have forced evacuations and sheltering in Las Animas County, disrupting travel and damaging ranchland. The fires have burned thousands of acres, strained volunteer fire departments and county resources, and pose ongoing economic and logistical challenges for local residents.
Multiple wildfires burning across southeastern Colorado are affecting communities in and around Las Animas County, prompting evacuations, road closures and emergency response efforts on Friday. The Bent's Fort Fire has burned an estimated 1,656 acres and is partially contained, while the Fort Lyon Fire has consumed several thousand acres with structure loss reported in the broader region. Roughly 125 people were evacuated to a shelter in the town of Las Animas as crews worked to secure lines and protect homes.
Local rural volunteer fire departments and county resources responded alongside state firefighting teams, with containment figures and acreage totals being updated as operations continued. Temporary closures of highways in the affected corridors disrupted travel for residents and freight, creating immediate logistical challenges for commuters and local businesses that rely on regional transportation links.
Ranchers in the area reported losses of pasture and impacts to cattle herds, a direct economic hit for a county where agriculture remains a central livelihood. Loss of grazing acreage reduces the county's carrying capacity and can raise costs for producers who must buy supplemental feed or move livestock. Such losses tend to ripple through local supply chains, affecting feed suppliers, transporters and seasonal labor demand.
The demands on volunteer fire departments underscore ongoing budget and capacity questions for rural emergency services. Multiple departments mobilized personnel and equipment, stretching already limited local resources and prompting greater reliance on state assistance. The pace of containment will determine the scale and duration of further evacuations, road restrictions and property damage assessments.
For residents the immediate priorities are safety and recovery planning. Evacuees were sheltered in Las Animas while officials continued to update information on containment and impacted acreage. In the coming days recovery work will include damage assessments, support for affected ranching operations and coordination on reopening transportation routes. As firefighting progresses, officials plan to release updated figures and guidance on return timelines and recovery assistance.
