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A night briefing, Oct. 13, was issued by the Decker Fire Incident Command at 8:45 p.m. Sunday evening, explaining the Oct. 13 events. As reported earlier, Chaffee County Sheriff John Spezze was notified by the U.S. Forest Service that the fire had jumped the containment line above Bear Creek, crossing Rainbow Trail. By 3 p.m. this afternoon, Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office ordered an immediate evacuation of Silverheels Drive, Bear Creek and the two residences just west of Silverheels drive.

Sunday afternoon, the plume of the Decker Fire’s advance to the northeast was visible from Sand Park. (Photo by Sandy Hobbs)

The fire advanced in a north-easterly direction, and crews engaged in suppression efforts and structural protection. All other residences from County Road 108 eastbound to just west of Silverheels Drive were ordered to be on pre-evacuation notice.

Some 180 firefighters were on the fire line when it jumped the line, and ultimately they had to pull back to their safe zones. Also this afternoon, a spot fire erupted near the top of the ridge on Methodist Mountain, near the lines protecting the communications towers.
Both incidents occurred while the area was under a Red Flag Warning for high winds, and humidity hovered between five and 10 percent.
An explanation of the advance of the fire can be listened to here