The wildfire that caused hundreds of people to evacuate in Bent County Saturday is now 80% contained, according to fire officials.
The Boggsville fire, which started about 10 a.m. Saturday on Colorado 101 about two miles south of Las Animas, burned 1,030 acres as of 7:15 p.m. Sunday night, according to a Facebook update from the Las Animas/Bent County Fire Protection District.
The fire quickly moved east along the Purgatoire River bottom, prompting road closures, nearby homes to evacuate and the Fort Lyon Supportive Residential Community and Bent County Correctional Facility to be placed on pre-evacuation notice by 11 a.m.
Firefighters from over 30 agencies secured a fire break around the city of Las Animas and the surrounding area.
The Fort Lyon Community, which provides recovery-oriented transitional housing to homeless people from across the state, was evacuated just before 1 p.m.; more than 200 residents were sent to the community center in Las Animas, fire officials said.
Fire crews held the line around Las Animas and the Keller District, and the pre-evacuation status of the Bent County jail was lifted at about 3 p.m. Saturday.
The fire stopped traveling along the Purgatoire River at the confluence of the Arkansas River, which mostly held the fire in place from the north overnight into Sunday.
Crews on Sunday worked to contain the fire from traveling east, south or west, fire officials said.
Fire crews will continue to monitor the fire, officials said.
More than 61 agencies assisted in fighting the fire, assisting evacuees and directing road closures.
