Colt Fire July 30: Critical fire weather expected in evening, containment at 6%

Warmer temperatures and swift winds are expected to increase Colt Fire activity on Sunday, July 30, while fire managers race to get around the fire with containment lines first.

The Colt Fire was last measured at 5,475 acres on July 29. No acreage update was available for Sunday, but officials reported some fire growth. Containment now sits at 6%.

The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for critical fire behavior from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. on July 30.

Temperatures in the fire are expected to range from 74-89 degrees. Relative humidity could drop to 16-18%. And winds will come from the west/southwest at 10-20 mph, with gusts up to 35 mph.

Despite the unfavorable conditions, firefighters are expected to continue containment work on the fire. Forest Service Road 646 has continued to stop the spread of Colt to the east, which is where the closest homes are located.

Crews burned out the 646 road to stifle any fuels between the fire and the containment line, and also did so along the West Fork of the Clearwater. Officials reported that both of these lines could tie in and corner off the fire on the southeastern front.

To the north, there is a crew hoping to create a fire control line between Beaver Lake and Colt Lake, and another line along Forest Service Road 906.

As of Sunday the fire had not jumped the West Fork of the Clearwater. With the bad weather, fire managers also reported a night crew will continue to patrol and monitor fire conditions.

There are no changes to standing evacuation orders in effect at Summit Park, Rovero Flats, Beaver Lake and Lake Inez, but officials said an evacuation order could be issued without prior notice or warning.