Last updated Sat., Oct 19, 7:45 a.m.
At last update, officials say the blaze has grown to 8,694 acres and remains 30 percent contained. Officials says current cost of fighting the fire has reached $16.4 million.
Earlier this week, authorities in Chaffee County have lifted additional evacuation notices for some residents living near the Decker Fire. As of 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, evacuations for CR 101, Bear Creek were shifted to a pre-evacuation status.
Officials say CR 101 will remain closed to traffic, with the exception of residents living on the road. CR 108 remains closed to all traffic, with the exception of residents of Boot Hill and Methodist Estates.
On Tuesday, the evacuation notice for Chaffee County residents of Silverheels Drive and directly west of there was reverted to pre-evacuation status.
In Fremont County, residents of Swissvale and Wellsville were be allowed to return to their homes earlier this week, but remain on pre-evacuation notice.
Previous Update (Tues, 10/15/19 6:32 a.m.)
Evacuations remain in place due to the Decker Fire, burning south of Salida. Residences of Bear Creek, Silverheels Drive and the two residents on the private drive just west of Silverheels Drive are being asked to evacuate immediately. The communities of Wellsville and Swissvale in Fremont County are also on evacuation notice due to increased fire activity. Additionally, portions of the Howard area in Fremont County are on a pre-evacuation status, as are residences in Chaffee County from County Road 108 east.
An interactive map of the fire has been updated to show current evacuation and pre-evacuation areas in Chaffee and Fremont Counties. The map includes a place to enter an address and see the location relative to the fire as well as hunting information and forest closures. Officials say the map will continue to be refined and additional information will be added as time goes on. Fire perimeter will be updated once a day.
As of Tuesday morning, the fire remains 30 percent contained with a size of more than 8,400 acres. More than 700 personnel are working the blaze, which is down from nearly 900 as of Oct. 8.
The current evacuations come after authorities say the fire jumped a containment line above Bear Creek. Many evacuations had been lifted as of Tuesday, Oct. 8.
An air quality alert is in place through 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15 for Fremont and Chaffee Counties. Prolonged periods of moderate to heavy smoke are expected.
