MEEKER | The glowing cross atop China Wall is a familiar landmark for Meeker residents, but according to fire safety mitigation experts, it isn’t the only thing lighting up the region just west of town.
“I think today if you had to ask me what the biggest priority in the state would be, it would be the Black Diamond fire, because we have an unraveling situation out there,” said Tara Tafi, Senior Project Manager and Reclamation Specialist for the Inactive Mine Reclamation Program under the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (DRMS).
Tafi presented an urgent update to the Meeker Board of Trustees on April 7 regarding the status of the Black Diamond Mine—an abandoned coal operation approximately one mile northwest of town that has been smoldering underground for nearly a century.
An “Unraveling” Situation
While the fire has been active since at least 1930, recent monitoring data shows a rapid and dangerous escalation in activity. During a thermal drone survey in June 2023, the highest recorded vent temperatures were approximately 150 degrees Fahrenheit. By January 2026, those readings spiked to 850 degrees, and by the time of the April 7 meeting, Tafi reported that on-site measurements had climbed to over 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
This rapid spike is the primary evidence for the “unraveling” nature of the fire. Meeker’s nearly vertical coal seams—a hallmark of the Grand Hogback range—create a “chimney effect,” allowing oxygen to pull deep into the ground to fuel the fire. As the fire consumes coal, it creates an underground void that leads to surface subsidence and fractures. These new openings allow even more oxygen to reach the fire, creating a self-sustaining feedback loop that causes the fire to burn hotter and collapse the ground further.
The visual evidence of this heat is now plain to see from the air. High-resolution imagery shows a significant die-off of timber and grass directly above the fire expressions. Tafi noted that looking at aerial photos from 2023 compared to today, the amount of “death in the timber” is striking, with trees turning red and dying as the intense heat and noxious gases vent through their root systems.
Risk and Air Quality
This escalation represents a critical risk because of the fire’s proximity to the community—it is located just 0.6 miles from the nearest residence. Beyond the heat, the vents release dangerous concentrations of carbon monoxide, making air quality near the site hazardous. Tafi warned that her team must carry four gas meters when approaching the area, serving as a stark reminder for local trail users to stay away from the fractures.
The presence of dead, dry fuel directly above 1,000-degree vents creates a high risk of a surface wildfire ignition, similar to the 2020 Streeter Fire sparked by a coal seam fire in Moffat County.
Emergency Mitigation Plan
To prevent such a disaster, the state is transitioning from monitoring to active emergency mitigation. The planned work, slated to begin around the beginning of May, is an essential preventative action rather than a temporary stopgap.
The state intends to clear approximately 1.5 acres of dead timber and brush above the fire to remove the immediate fuel source. The team also plans to “bench” back into the hillside, creating a flat area or fire break designed to catch any hot or burning material that might roll off the cliff face before it reaches the dry grasses in the bottom of Anderson Gulch.
Local Logistics and Future Steps
Residents can expect to see heavy equipment, including dozers and excavators, in the coming weeks. Because the previous access route is no longer safe, the board granted the state permission to use Anderson Gulch via Hill Street and Ute Park. Tafi noted that they can get a “low boy” trailer through the gate to unload equipment without unloading on Main Street. To prevent sign theft and trespassing, the state will install robust multi-lock gates and warning signs near the BLM boundary.
Tafi emphasized that while the situation is serious, it is being managed by experienced professionals who oversee roughly 40 such fires across the state.
“The key is to make sure that we get the information across, but we don’t want to scare people,” Tafi said. “We have a plan, we’re paying attention, and we’re going to do the best we can to get it under control.”
This May project is just the “emergency piece” of the plan. Tafi has already requested grant funds for a larger mitigation project in 2027 to potentially “dig on the fire” and achieve a more permanent solution once conditions are safer.
Residents with questions or concerns regarding the Black Diamond Mine fire mitigation work can contact Chris Arend, Natural Resources Public Information Officer for the state. For more background on the history of Rio Blanco County’s underground fires, residents can visit the Herald Times archives to find previous reporting on local coal seam risks.