RBC | A fire approximately eight miles up County Road 8 had Rio Blanco Fire, BLM, RBC Road and Bridge and Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s office responding early Sunday afternoon on April 11. The sheriff’s office asked the public to stay clear of the area to allow crews to work.[Read More…]
Tag: Wildfires
Writers on the Range: We can act now to fight wildfires
RBC | For the 2021 fire season, the writing is on the wall. The West, despite a few days of intense winter, is far drier than it was leading up to last year’s record-breaking fires. As a hotshot crewmember, the reality of what’s to come fills me with two distinct[Read More…]
WREA Crew Assists Wildfire Power Restoration Efforts
RBC | When electric cooperatives send a call for help, it is answered with a resounding “we are on our way” by neighboring coops. Whether it be hurricane damage in the southeast or fire damage at WREA’s neighboring Mountain Parks Electric, dedicated lineman are quick to volunteer to help restore[Read More…]
White River National Forest to lift fire restrictions over most of Forest
RBC | Beginning Friday, most ranger districts on the White River National Forest will lift fire restrictions. The Aspen-Sopris, Blanco, Eagle-Holy Cross, and Rifle ranger districts are lifting restrictions Friday as fire danger has decreased with the recent snow. The Dillon Ranger District is coordinating with Summit County and will[Read More…]
Fire season is not over
RBC | Extreme drought and fire conditions continue to plague Northwest Colorado as we head into mid-autumn. According to Rio Blanco County Sheriff Anthony Mazzola, last week the Rio Blanco Fire Protection District responded to five human-start fires, four of which were allegedly started by hunters in the forest. “We[Read More…]
Conservation Corner: Aug. 20, 2020
Forest Health and Wildfire What is hydrophobicity and why are hydrophobic soils significant? Many resources are dependent upon each other, leaving no room for error in one without affecting several others. Severe fires burning with high intensity impact the soil, forest, and watershed health for many years to come. After[Read More…]
Letter to the Editor: Aug. 20, 2020
Fire is beneficial to the range Dear Editor: I was very excited to read BLM Deputy Director William Pendley’s article in last week’s HT about the value of fire to our western ranges and his claim that the BLM was using fire as a land management tool. He even cited[Read More…]
OPINION: Fighting western wildfires
RBC | It is the height of fire season in the American West, with temperatures at triple-digits across the Great Basin and lightning-ladened monsoons sweeping the arid landscape. Thus, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and interagency, state and local allies are fighting wildfires to protect natural resources, neighbors, and[Read More…]
Fire at top of 7th Street in Meeker: UPDATED
UPDATE as of 4:04 p.m.: According to authorities, the fire has been contained and mop-up is underway. Crews are responding to a fire at the top of 7th St. near the water tower in Meeker. Flames are visible for several blocks, and there are reports power lines are in danger.[Read More…]
Smoke gets in your eyes…
A huge smoke cloud has blanketed Rio Blanco County this week, triggering multiple air quality alerts. Above, smoke hovers over downtown Meeker. According to the CDC, inhaling wildfire smoke can trigger coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest pain, stinging eyes, runny nose, irritated sinuses, tiredness and a rapid heartbeat. Recommendations[Read More…]
Air quality alerts go out as Western Slope is swathed in fires
RBC | The Grizzly Creek Fire is burning in the White River National Forest near Glenwood Springs and has closed I-70 indefinitely. Smoke from this blaze, and the Pine Gulch Fire near Grand Junction, are affecting air quality in Rio Blanco County. With one of the largest wildfires in the[Read More…]
Fire Update: July 16, 2020
The Rocky Mountain Incident Management Blue Team took command of the Fawn Creek, Stewart and Wolf fires early Wednesday. Thursday afternoon they issued an update on the firefighting efforts: “Aerial resources supporting the Fawn Creek, Stewart, and Wolf fires assisted with the initial attack of a new fire west of[Read More…]
