SOUTHERN COLORADO -- Heavy smoke from the massive Track fire in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado has forced the Colorado Department of Public Health to issue smoke health advisories.
The advisories include Pueblo, Huerfano, Las Animas, Otero and Crowley counties from 10 a.m. Wednesday until 7 a.m. Thursday. Cities in the area include Pueblo, Walsenburg, Trinidad, La Junta and Ordway.
Health department officials said if smoke moves into the area, it could be unhealthy for older adults, children and those with lung or heart diseases. They said the way to tell if smoke has reached an unhealthy level is to check visibility. If visibility is fewer than five miles, the smoke is at an unhealthy level.
The Track fire in and around Raton, N.M. has burned more than 25,000 acres so far, and has also destroyed at least 14 structures.
Firefighters are hoping to make progress on the fire with light winds expected in the area Wednesday. Hundreds of residents who live north and east of the fire remained out of their homes Wednesday, but none of the structures the fire burned were primary residences.
The Duckett fire burning in Fremont and Custer Counties is now at 2,500, burning on rugged terrain. That fire is only about five percent contained, and an additional 50 homes were evacuated Monday.
There are 310 firefighters battling the fire, which is eight miles northwest of Westcliffe, Colo.
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