THE UTE PARK FIRE IS NOW AT 8-THOUSAND ACRES … UP FROM 45 HUNDRED ACRES EARLIER. AND IT HASN’T BEEN CONTAINED AT ALL. A LARGE PLUME OF SMOKE IS HOVERING OVER THE FIRE AREA EAST OF EAGLE NEST. IT’S FORCED EVACUATIONS IN THE AREA AND EVACUATION CENTERS HAVE BEEN OPENED NOW AT THE NRA WHITTINGTON CENTER IN RATON. OTHER CENTERS ARE THE LAGUNA VISTA LODGE IN EAGLE NEST AND THE ANGEL FIRE RETREAT IN ANGEL FIRE.
THE FIRE IS THREATENING 150 STRUCTURES AND IT’S ALREADY BURNED DOWN 12 STRUCTURES ON THE PHILMONT SCOUT RANCH, WHICH THE OWNERS WERE CONSIDERING TEARING DOWN ANYWAY.
HIGHWAY 64 IS CLOSED IN BOTH DIRECTIONS SINCE THE FIRE JUMPED THAT ROAD. AND STATE ROAD 204 IS CLOSED AT CIMARRON. EAGLE NEST LAKE STATE PARK … WHICH IS STILL OPEN … IS BEING USED FOR HELICOPTERS HELPING IN THE FIRE-FIGHT.
