The most recent update from Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office: MEEKER | A wildfire near Greasewood Gulch approximately 24 miles west of Meeker was reported just hours after the National Weather Service issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook for critical fire conditions. Despite a very snowy winter and wet spring,[Read More…]
Tag: wildfire
Half of Coloradans now live in wildfire risk areas
RBC | The number of people living in areas at risk to the effects of wildland fire increased by nearly 50 percent from 2012 to 2017, based on new Colorado Wildfire Risk Assessment data released this week by the Colorado State Forest Service. As of 2017, approximately 2.9 million people live[Read More…]
IT AIN’T OVER YET …
A fire north of Meeker along Highway 13 Saturday closed the road in both directions, cause unknown. Please continue to use extreme caution as fire danger remains high. COURTESY PHOTO
HISTORY ON REPEAT …
The Museum of Northwest Colorado—Craig shared this photo of a wildfire just above town in Meeker sometime during the 1920s-30s. MUSEUM OF NORTHWEST COLORADO | COURTESY PHOTO
UPDATE: Hwy. 13 closed north of Meeker for fire operations
HIGHWAY 13 NORTH OF MEEKER IS OPEN, ALTERNATING LANES 6:15 PM Highway 13 north from mile marker 51 at the top of Nine Mile to Colowyo is closed for fire operations on the James Fire.
Farm Bureau donates $20k+ to fire victims
RBC | The Colorado Farm Bureau Foundation has donated $20,000 to help those affected by the Spring Creek Fire in Huerfano and Costilla counties. Along with a $1,000 donation from Colorado Farm Bureau Insurance, collected donations will be given to individuals who were affected by the massive fire. “The fire laid[Read More…]
Flash Flood Watch issued for burn scar areas
RBC | The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Watch for several area burn scars, including the Red Canyon, Cabin Lake, Indian Valley and Divide Fires in Rio Blanco and Moffat Counties. The watch is in effect from noon today through noon Wednesday as storm systems roll through.[Read More…]
UPDATED: Whiskey Fire 31 miles south of Rangely 100 percent contained
RANGELY | Another wildfire sprang up Saturday, July 28, east of Whiskey Creek, 2 miles east of the Utah border and 31 miles south of Rangely in Rio Blanco County. An MMA flight put the burn at 39.5 acres as of Monday, July 30, on BLM land bordering private land in[Read More…]
UPDATED: Seely Fire northeast of Meeker
MEEKER | A human-caused wildfire was reported early Saturday afternoon at the end of County Road 121 in the Hamilton area. Multiple agencies responded to the blaze, which threatened multiple structures on private land. As of Monday morning, the fire was reported to be approximately 25 acres per RBC Sheriff.[Read More…]
The Five Types of Incident Management Teams, explained
As fire season rages on, incident management teams and their types often come up in our reports. An incident, as defined by FEMA, is “an occurrence or event, natural or human-caused, that requires an emergency response to protect life or property.” An incident management team (IMT) is a group of[Read More…]
UPDATED: Stewart Gulch fire 100 percent contained
STEWART GULCH FIRE Location: 16 miles SW of Meeker in Rio Blanco County Size: 62 acres Cause: Lightning Containment: 100 percent contained as of Saturday, July 28 A wildland fire in Stewart Gulch/Sprague Gulch area was reported Tuesday afternoon at approximately MM 15 of County Road 5/Piceance Creek. The location is[Read More…]
UPDATED: Sulphur Fire 977 acres, 100 percent contained
SULPHUR FIRE Location: approximately 5 miles north of Meeker in steep, rugged, inaccessible terrain; a power line in the area has made things difficult for air resources Size: 977 acres Cause: Lightning Containment: 100% County Road 11/Sulphur Creek Road is now open. MEEKER | Several people called in reports of smoke north of Meeker[Read More…]
