Pre-evacuations ordered due to Pueblo steel plant fire burning in Southern Colorado

Thick, black smoke billowed from the EVRAZ Pueblo steel plant on Friday afternoon. The smoke was blowing north. 

The plumb of smoke continued to grow as the fire continued to burn. 

The steel plant is located at 2100 South Freeway in Pueblo. 

It is unclear whether the plant was operating at the time of the fire. The cause of the fire is unknown. 

The Pueblo County Sheriff's Office tweeted that homes in the 1000-1100 block of Palo Alto in the Salt Creek neighborhood were prepared for pre-evacuation orders due to the EVRAZ fire. The reception center is located at 1650 Cooper Place.  

Colorado Springs has sent resources to assist in the firefighting efforts. Firefighters in Pueblo also battled a wildland fire that forced evacuations near Jerry Murphy Road and Vision Hills Parkway on Friday afternoon. 

Officials issued a shelter in place until due to air quality concerns. 

The shelter in place is to the north of EVRAZ including Summit Avenue and Opal Street out east to San Juan Street, south to Canal Street and west to Stone Avenue. 

EVRAZ was formerly Rocky Mountain Steel. Officials are ordering residents to stay inside, shut all windows and turn off your air conditioner.