Wildfire forces evacuations in Eagle County — here’s what you need to know

A wildfire burning in Eagle County has forced mandatory evacuations, and as of Wednesday afternoon, those orders are still in place.

The Spring Creek Fire — originally called the Thomasville Fire — sparked Tuesday near the intersection of Frying Pan Road and Thomasville, just northeast of Ruedi Reservoir. The fire has burned about 15 acres and has zero containment, according to the U.S. Forest Service’s White River National Forest. The White River National Forest is now coordinating with both Pitkin and Eagle counties on the fire.

Mandatory evacuation orders cover the area south of Eagle-Thomasville Road at Crooked Creek Pass to the county line, including homes from 28525 Brush Creek Rd. down to Frying Pan Road. If you or anyone you know is still in that area, authorities are urging an immediate departure — it is no longer safe to stay.

Crews weren’t able to start containment efforts Tuesday because of high winds and challenging terrain, though they remained on scene to monitor the fire. By Wednesday afternoon, about 95 firefighters were on scene working to construct handlines with the help of a heavy helicopter — though a large number of “snags,” or hazardous dead trees, has been slowing progress.

As we head deeper into fire season here in Colorado, this is a good reminder to make sure you and your family have a plan. Here are a few things you can do right now:

Sign up for emergency alerts. Eagle County uses ECAlert, powered by the ReachWell app, to push critical evacuation and emergency notifications directly to your phone. If you live in or spend time in Eagle County, signing up could be the most important thing you do this summer.

Pack a go-bag. Think of it as a “just in case” bag with the essentials — important documents, medications, phone chargers, a change of clothes, and anything irreplaceable. Having it ready means you’re not scrambling when every second counts.

Create defensible space around your home. Clearing brush, dead vegetation, and debris within 100 feet of your home can make a real difference in whether it survives a fire. Eagle County even offers free wildfire risk assessments and cost-share programs to help homeowners get it done.

Know your evacuation route — before you need it. Don’t wait until there’s smoke in the air to figure out how you’re getting out. Know at least two ways out of your neighborhood and have a plan for where you’ll go.

For the latest updates on the Spring Creek Fire and current evacuation zones in Eagle County, visit ECEmergency.org.