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LAKE COUNTY, Colorado – Authorities in Lake County issued immediate mandatory “Go Now” evacuation orders on Monday, June 29, 2026, as the rapidly growing Willow Fire threatened homes, campgrounds and popular recreation areas near Turquoise Lake. The wildfire, which ignited on the afternoon of Sunday, June 28, 2026, in a remote, rugged section of the San Isabel National Forest south of Turquoise Lake, quickly expanded to an estimated 1,200 acres and remained zero percent contained. Officials said steep terrain and dense forest fuels have hampered suppression efforts and contributed to extreme fire behavior, prompting the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Lake County Emergency Management to move swiftly from monitoring to full evacuation operations. The mandatory evacuation zone covers multiple residential subdivisions and a wide swath of surrounding public lands, including all areas from County Road 4 east to County Road 9D, as well as County Roads 9, 9D, 5A, 48 and 99. Authorities also ordered the immediate evacuation of all campgrounds around Turquoise Lake, all trails originating from the Leadville National Fish Hatchery and backcountry trails up to the treeline at roughly 12,000 feet, including active segments of the Colorado Trail. Pre-evacuation notices were issued for nearby neighborhoods such as the Grand West Area, Mountain View East and West, Turquoise Lake Estates, the Silver Hills Subdivision and residences along County Roads 9, 17 and 4 north of Turquoise Lake up to County Road 21, including the Homestake Trout Club, with residents urged to be ready to leave with little notice.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.