OURAY COUNTY, Colo. — The Simms Fire that destroyed three structures southwest of Montrose in southwestern Colorado is now 100% contained, fire officials said Monday afternoon.
The fire, which was first reported around 4:25 p.m. Thursday about 15 miles southwest of Montrose, has burned 313 acres. Fire officials initially said the fire burned 373 acres, but revised that number after field verification and better mapping.
Several homes in the area were ordered to evacuate Thursday, but those evacuation orders have since been lifted.
Simms Mesa is located south of Montrose in southwestern Colorado. The U.S. Forest Service said they were conducting a prescribed burn in the area Monday. They said they would be conducting one day of hand ignition, followed by patrolling for the rest of the week. They planned to burn about 200 acres "to increase the resiliency and reproduction of native ponderosa pine stands, protect adjacent private property from the spread of unplanned wildfires and reduce slash from mechanical treatments."
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