UPDATE (May 24, 2022) — According to the Teller County Sheriff’s Office, fire crews have achieved 100% containment on the High Park Fire.

UPDATE (May 22, 2022) — The High Park Fire is now 95% contained thanks to the weekend snowstorm and firefighters’ efforts, according to Teller County Sheriff’s Office. Some places in Teller County saw up to 20 inches of snow.

The Four Mile Fire District is still working on the fire, all the federal and state help has been relieved and has been sent to help other wildfires.

Although the county saw moisture, the burn restrictions have not been lifted or modified.

UPDATE (May 19, 2022) — Evacuees in Teller County were able to return home for the first time in six days after the High Park Fire started to burn in their area.

Evacuation and pre-evacuation orders were lifted on Wednesday.

Firefighters, however, remain at work.

The High Park Fire is now 87% contained and has burned nearly 1,600 acres.

The Teller County Sheriff’s Office says, due to smoke in the area, anyone with heart disease or respiratory illnesses, the very young, and the elderly, should take precautions when outside.

UPDATE: At a town hall meeting on Tuesday, fire officials announced that the High Park Fire in Teller County is now 70% contained around the north and west sides of the fire perimeter, and no structures have been burned. Helicopters continue to make water drops over the area, which are focusing on the southern end of the fire.

UPDATE (Tuesday): According to fire crews, the High Park Fire currently burning in Teller County is now 37% contained, up 10% from progress made over the weekend.

So far, crews say, the fire has burned almost 1,600 acres.

Helicopters continue to make water drops over the area, focusing on the southern end of the fire.

About 400 people and 75 businesses are under evacuation or pre-evacuation status.

A federal incident management team took the lead on the High Park Fire over the weekend.

UPDATE: Crews fighting the High Park Fire in Teller County provided an update of their progress on Monday.

“Yesterday was a really good day,” said Lathan Johnson of Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 1. “We were able to continue to secure a lot of line.”

Johnson said the fire began to move south, which he clarified was helpful to crews on scene – because that’s easier terrain.

UPDATE: The fire has grown to 1,558 acres and is 27% contained. Helicopters continue running dip and drop cycles delivering water over areas of heat, primarily in the southern end of the fire.

TELLER COUNTY, Colo. — The High Park Fire in Teller County, which sparked on May 12, 2022, has burned 1,499 acres and is now 27% contained. The county’s sheriff’s department has reported no structures have been lost as 180 personnel fight the flames, with additional support on the way.

A federal Incident Management Team took command of the fire on Sunday. Teller County Commissioner Dan Williams has asked Governor Jared Polis to declare a state disaster.

Dozens of people in Teller County are still under evacuation orders.

There is, as yet, no word on what started the High Park Fire.

UPDATE: More photos of the fire and burned areas.

UPDATE: Videos show helicopters dousing hot spots of the High Park Fire with buckets of water.

UPDATE: Pre-evacuation notices are in effect for Rhyolite Mountain Mesa, Monarch and Lost Canyon. An evacuation shelter has been set up at Woodland Park High School. Livestock can be taken to Cripple Creek Fairgrounds.

County Road 11 is closed from milepost 3 to County Road 112.

The Teller County Sheriff’s Office will have a community town hall meeting at 1 p.m. at Cripple Creek Victor High School.

The fire’s increase in size is due to a combination of firing operations to secure indirect fireline and wind-driven fire, according to Mykell Kroll, Fremont County Director of Emergency Management. It is burning in ponderosa pine and grass in steep, rocky terrain with High Park Road to the west and Fourmile Creek to the east. The fire has been most active at the southeast corner of the fire perimeter where it spotted across Fourmile Creek.

Firefighters will continue to patrol and mop up heat sources to secure the fire’s edge in all sections of the fire.

Helicopters and air attack platforms will continue to support the firefighting effort with aerial observation and bucket drops.

UPDATE: The fire has increased to 1,172 acres with 10% containment. The briefing for this morning has been cancelled.

UPDATE: A video of a press conference with the Teller County Sheriff’s office has been released below.

UPDATE: At a briefing early morning, the Teller County Sheriff’s Office stated the fire was over 1,000 acres and is 10% contained. There will be another briefing for evacuated individuals at Florissant fire station at 1 p.m.

TELLER COUNTY, Colo. — The High Park fire burned back on itself on Friday, forcing new mandatory and pre-evacuation orders and closing down roads in the area.