MEEKER | Sunday afternoon, crews responded to a new wildland fire at 36843 CR 17 (the Buford/New Castle road) with multiple structures threatened, including Seven Lakes Lodge and nearby cabins. Seven Lakes Lodge is on pre-evacuation notice, and a reverse 911 call was issued to residents of County Road 17 to alert them to firefighting equipment in the area and the potential that a pre-evacuation or evacuation order may be issued. The fire is 5.5 miles south of Buford. Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center reports 43 structures are threatened.
Inciweb reports the fire is moving southeast and is actively burning in aspen stands near Burro Mountain on White River National Forest and private land. The Buford New Castle Road is closed at the intersection of County Road 10 and County Road 17 and south to the Meadow Lake Campground turnoff.
The White River National Forest Service has issued an emergency closure “for all Forest Service system lands east of North Elk Creek, south of Buford and Lake Avery, west of the South Fork of White River, and north of Meadow Lake campground. Additionally all trails within this area are closed for public safety” according to Inciweb.
For a full map of the closure, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/whiteriver/alerts-notices
Follow Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office on Facebook for evacuation updates.
