Routt County Colorado wildfires force evacuations and state emergency declaration

Two separate wildfires erupted Sunday in Routt County, Colorado. The Green Ridge Fire near Stagecoach Reservoir grew from a reported 0.1 acre to about 44 acres by evening, threatening roughly 480 structures within three miles and prompting mandatory evacuation orders for several zones. Governor Jared Polis verbally declared a disaster emergency for the Green Ridge Fire, activating Colorado’s State Emergency Operations Plan and authorizing statewide resources, including the Colorado National Guard, firefighting engines, aviation assets, and out‑of‑state medical providers.

The Fishhook Fire, burning near Rabbit Ears Pass, expanded to an estimated 94 acres. Both fires saw air and ground crews deployed, with smoke visible on local camera feeds. An evacuation center was opened at SoroCo High School in Oak Creek to provide information and assistance to displaced residents.