Wind, dry vegetation fueled Monday wildfire started from out of control burn pile
West Routt Fire Protection District/Courtesy photo
The West Routt Fire Protection District said a wildfire burned more than 25 acres Monday afternoon.
According to a statement, the district received a call just before 1 p.m. and responded to mile marker three on County Road 78 with two brush trucks, two engines, a command vehicle and eight firefighters.
Upon arrival, moderate fire behavior was observed with strong winds from an approaching cold front pushing the fire to the southeast. The “rapid advance of the fire” prompted a request for additional resources, according to the fire protection district.
A U.S. Bureau of Land Management engine and the Mad Creek Module from the Colorado Department of Fire Prevention and Control subsequently responded, along with a grader from the Routt County Road & Bridge grader.
Deputies with the Routt and Moffat County Sheriff Offices and members of the Routt County Office of Emergency Management were also on scene.
By 4 p.m., a firefighter used his radio to report the fire as 75% contained after burning about 35 acres — the area burned was adjusted to roughly 25 acres by Tuesday, according to the West Routt Fire Protection Districts. No structures were damaged.
A dispatch report Tuesday morning declared the fire completely “out” just after 9 a.m. according to the Colorado Fire, Weather & Avalanche Center.
The Monday incident, started by an out of control burn pile, came two days after West Routt Fire Protection District personnel responded to a fire that spread across five acres around County Road 76 and County Road 74A.
The fire protection district said in a statement no structural damage was recorded from the Saturday fire, which started after wind carried flames from a ditch-burn set by a local property owner.
The department said both fire incidents were fueled by last year’s dead grasses and still dormant sagebrush and winds that allowed the flames from the burn pile and ditch-fire to rapidly advance through those fuels.
West Routt Fire Protection District reminded the community to check weather forecasts before burning, to always attend their fire and have fire control methods readily available.
Trevor Ballantyne is the city government and housing reporter. To reach him, call 970-871-4254 or email him at tballantyne@SteamboatPilot.com.
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