The Red Cross of Colorado and Wyoming continues to respond to the immediate needs of those people affected by the Junkins Fire burning in the Wet Mountains east of Westcliffe, CO.
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| Red Cross volunteers ready to help at the Wetmore Fire Station Disaster Assistance Center. Photo by Bill Fortune American Red Cross |
Updated Monday, October 24, 2016 NOTE:This will be the last update for the Junkins Fire Response.
For fire information go to:
Facebook: :www.facebook.com/JunkinsFire/
InciWeb post: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5071/#
Call the Information Line: 719-283-1710
As containment grows on the Junkins Fire near Westcliff people have began returning to their homes. The Red Cross closed the shelter preciously located at the First Southern Baptist Church in Florence.
Disaster assistance centers were opened in Pueblo at the State Fairgrounds and at the Wetmore Fire Station to provide resources and referrals to those who had evacuated nearly a week ago and were heading back to their homes.
Red Cross volunteers were at both centers providing clean up supplies, shovels and individual assistance.
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| Evacuees check the fire information at the Wetmore Fire Station. Photo by Bill Fortune/American Red Cross |
Disaster Assistance Centers remain open in Pueblo, at the Colorado State Fairgrounds and in Westcliffe at the Custer County Share facility. Cleanup supplies and other useful items have been moved to those locations and are available there for pickup. The Adventist Disaster Service will maintain a distribution and collection center for donated items. Anyone affected by the Junkins Fire is welcome to those centers for additional support.
Anyone needing additional assistance from the Red Cross is asked to call our 24-hour response number at 800-417-0495.
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| Red Cross cleanup supplies available at both Disaster Assistance Centers. Photo by Bill Fortune/American Red Crosss |
Updated: Noon, Friday, October 21, 2016
Many of the evacuees from the Junkins Fire are being allowed to return and today marks the beginning of the recovery phase. Organizations, nonprofits as well as state and local governments are working together to provide support and resources for those people affected by the Junkins Fire in Pueblo and Custer Counties.
The evacuee shelter remains open in Florence at the First Southern Baptist Church of Florence, 303 E. Third St., Florence, CO. Seven people slept at the shelter overnight Thursday with several more registering for meals and information.
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| Red Cross Disaster Assessment team at the Junkins Fire. Photo American Red Cross |
Red Cross volunteers are positioned at the Emergency Operations Center in Westcliffe to help coordinate shelter and feeding requirements. They are also at the Florence shelter to provide comfort and support. A team of volunteers were out in the fire area to assessing damage to homes.
Disaster Assistance Centers have been opened in both Custer and Pueblo Counties:
Custer County Disaster Assistance Center – Wetmore Volunteer Fire Station, 200 County Rd 290, Wetmore, CO. Hours of operation: Friday 7 A.M. to 4 P.M. and Saturday 8 A.M. to 4 P.M.
Services Available: Reentry passes, clean up supplies, water and other recovery information
Pueblo County Disaster Assistance Center – Colorado Building, Colorado State Fairgrounds, 1001 Beulah Ave, Pueblo, CO. Hour of operation – Friday 10 A.M. to 7 P.M., Saturday 10 A.M. to 4 P.M.
Services available – Clean up supplies, fire information, recovery information, food, water and used clothing.
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| Delbert Hayden (R) and Chris Hayden from Adventist Disaster Services stand in front of the vast amount of supplies available to people affected by the Junkins Fire. Photo by Bill Fortune/ American Red Cross |
The Adventist Disaster Services have taken on the collection, warehousing and distribution of items for those impacted by the Junkin Fire. Anyone wishing to donate can bring any item (clothing, small furniture, non-perishable food items, blankets, etc.) to the Disaster Assistance Center in Pueblo. Anyone affected by the Junkins Fire who is in need can pick up a variety of items. Pueblo County Department of Social Services is also on hand in Pueblo to provide food and financial assistance to those affected by the fire.
Links for additional information:
Custer County: http://www.custercountygov.com/
Pueblo County: http://www.puebloemergency.info
Fremont County: http://www.fremontco.com/
Complete closure and evacuation information is on
Inciweb at: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5071
The latest press release from Custer County is available at http://custercountygov.com
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Update:Thursday, October 20, 2016, 4:00 P.M.
As our support continues for the evacuees from the Junkins Fire, the Red Cross has one shelter open to provide a warm, safe place for people to stay. That shelter is located at 303 E. Third Street in Florence, CO.
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| Red Cross volunteers Lee Lampbert (l) and Ed Flannery work in the kitchen at the Florence shelter. Photo by Bill Fortune/ American Red Cross |
Some people are being allowed to return home as containment on the fire continues to grow. For the latest list of those areas where mandatory evacuation has been lifted please see the latest press release from Custer County at http://custercountygov.com/pdf/JunkinsFire_PressRelease1.pdf.
A Disaster Assistance Center (DAC) has been opened at the Wetmore Fire Department. Re-Entry passes must be obtained at the Wetmore Volunteer Fire Station located at 200 County Road 290, Wetmore, CO 81253. Passes are available from 3 P.M. to 8 P.M, today and again on Friday from 7:30 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. Residents may also pick up re-entry supplies at the DAC.
A Disaster Assistance Center is open in Pueblo at the Colorado Building at the Colorado State Fir Grounds, 1001 Beulah Ave, Pueblo, CO. Re-entry supplies are available at this center. Donations to help those recovering from the fire can be dropped off a that location. Hours on Friday are 9 A.M. to 4 P.M.
Anyone returning to their home after the fire will experience a significant clean up and risks from ash and smoke. People are urged to use caution when returning home. Red Cross Cleanup supplies are available at the Pueblo Disaster Assistance Center and at the Wetmore Disaster Assistance Center.
Update: Thursday, October 20, 2016, 9:00 A.M.
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| Shelter sign for the Red Cross as the the sun sets through smoke from the Junkins Fire. Photo by American Red Cross |
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| Volunteer Walt Palmer (in vest) speaks to local media about Red Cross support for evacuees. Photo by Americna Red Cross |
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Update: Wednesday, October 19, 11:00 A.M.
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| Incident Command Center for the Junkins Fire in Westcliffe, CO. Photo by Bill Fortune/American Red Cross |
Shelters were opened Monday as the initial set of evacuation orders were given.
Pueblo – Colorado State Fairgrounds (Agriculture Center) – 1001 Beulah St, Pueblo, CO
Florence – Florence Christian Church, 303 E. Third St., Florence, CO
As of Wednesday, October 19, 3 people stayed at the shelter in Pueblo with 10 people staying at the shelter in Florence.
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| Evacuees have cots ready at Colorado State Fairgrounds shelter in Pueblo. Photo by American Red Cross |
The shelter in Pueblo has been placed in standby mode and the family staying there has been moved to the shelter in Florence. The Pueblo shelter will close at 9:00 A.M, Thursday, October 20, 2016. The Florence shelter will remain open as long as needed.
How Can I Help?
Nonperishable food items can be taken to the Custer County Care and Share in Westcliffe at 312 S. Third St.
Monetary donations are being collected on behalf of the victims of the Junkins Fire at the First State Bank in Westcliffe. This fund was opened by the Ladies Auxiliary of the Custer County Volunteer Fire Department.