EVRAZ steel mill blaze in Pueblo 100% contained, Vision Hills wildfire burns 107 acres
Christian Murdock, The Gazette
Following the Friday fire at the EVRAZ steel mill in Pueblo, the Environmental Protection Agency says no harmful chemicals were involved in the fire.
According to reports from Gazette news partner KOAA, the EPA states it is continuing to monitor the air quality throughout areas surrounding the fire Saturday, “out of an abundance of caution.”
“First responders determined that there were no hazardous substances involved in the fire,” the EPA statement obtained by News5 reads.
Fire update (Raw footage) from Pueblo County on Vimeo.
According to the International Association of Firefighters Local #3 in Pueblo, two firefighters were injured while battling the steel mill blaze. The extent of their injuries is unknown at this time.
“Please keep our two firefighters in your hearts for a speedy recovery,” a social media statement from Pueblo Local #3 reads.
As of 3:45 p.m. Saturday, officials announced the fire to be 100% contained.
Meanwhile, the Vision Hills wildfire burning near the intersection of Jerry Murphy Road and Vision Hills Parkway in Pueblo has burned approximately 107 acres and has reached 80% containment as of Saturday morning.
According to the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office, the fire started at around 10:30 a.m. Friday, forming a 100-foot column of smoke at about 7 p.m. before dying down to burn through trees near Fountain Creek.
The fire prompted evacuations for some residents and a multiple-unit response, according to the Pueblo Fire Department. Those evacuations have been shifted to pre-evacuation status as of 10:30 a.m. Saturday.
No structures have burned amid the blaze, fire officials said.
According to the city of Pueblo X account, as of Saturday morning, Pueblo is limiting all outdoor activities due to an air quality alert issued by Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment. This alert will last through Sunday, April 7.
Additionally, both municipal golf courses have been closed as of Saturday morning, including the Elmwood Golf Course and Walking Stick Golf Course, a social media announcement states.
All games scheduled to take place at Langoni Field are canceled and no access to the field will be allowed, officials said.
