Evacuation orders were lifted in Clear Creek County as firefighters battle a wildfire on County Road 308 between Empire and Lawson, according to the Clear Creek Sheriff’s Office.

People who live in the Western Inn Trailer Court no longer need to leave, Jefferson County 911 posted on X. An evacuation alert was sent to 96 people, the sheriff’s office said, and five homes had been evacuated in Hidden Valley.

The Western Inn fire has grown to 5 acres and was 25% contained as of 6 p.m., according to Jenny Fulton, the public information officer for the Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office.

U.S. 40 was closed for several hours at Interstate 70, near mile marker 232, to allow a helicopter to collect water from the creek to drop on the wildfire.

In addition to the helicopter’s firefighting efforts, a plane is dropping retardant on the wildfire, and Central City Fire is assisting. There are

Foothills Fire and Genesee Fire also were fighting a blaze but that has been contained, JeffCo 911 said. It is a separate fire from the one burning in Clear Creek County. A third fire in the area also has been put out, the Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office said on Facebook.

The Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office reported the fire around 3 p.m. Friday.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

Originally Published: July 19, 2024 at 3:57 p.m.