Wildfire evacuates nearly 100 homes in southern Colorado

Lauren Penington, The Denver Post on Mar 19, 2026

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DENVER — Mandatory evacuations remained in place for nearly 100 homes in southern Colorado on Thursday after a wildfire sparked the day before, according to the Custer County Sheriff’s Office.

The Buttermilk fire, which was last estimated to be burning on 60 to 80 acres northwest of Westcliffe, was first reported at 2:38 p.m. Wednesday, sheriff’s officials said. As of Wednesday night, the fire was 10% contained.

The growing fire forced 98 nearby homes to evacuate, according to a Wednesday night update from the sheriff’s office. The evacuation zone covers a 2-mile radius of homes along Custer County Road 170, County Road 179, Chalice Drive and Chalice Road, sheriff’s officials said. Homes along County Road 182 and in the Verdemont area were on pre-evacuation status.

“If you have already been evacuated, please do not return to the area at this time,” officials said Wednesday night. “Residents in the Verdemont area who have not been evacuated should remain on standby.”

As of Wednesday night, no structures had been destroyed and no injuries or fatalities had been reported, according to the sheriff’s office.

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