Colorado’s Grizzly Creek Fire Closes I-70

Wildfire east of Glenwood Springs

 

(InciWeb)

 

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — A portion of Interstate 70 remained closed in western Colorado on Tuesday because of a wildfire that broke out along the highway the day before, forcing drivers headed across the state to take long detours through the mountains.

When the fire was reported five miles (eight kilometers) east of Glenwood Springs, firefighters found large active flames in the highway’s median before the fire ran up the north-facing slope, U.S. Forest Service spokesperson David Boyd said. The fire grew to about 2 square miles (5.2 square kilometers) by nightfall.

InciWeb: Grzzly Creek Fire Updates

See also  ID Orders Evacuations as Wildland Fire Takes Off

The cause of the fire was under investigation. It was not immediately threatening any homes and there have not been any evacuations, Boyd said.

The fire broke out on a portion of I-70, the state’s main east-west highway, that runs along the Colorado River. Some rafters and their guides had to be evacuated from the river and hikers were also escorted down the trail from Hanging Lake, a popular destination nearby, the Glenwood Springs Post Independent reported.

Some residents elsewhere in Garfield County have been evacuated because of a 47.3 square mile (122.4 square kilometer) fire burning north of Grand Junction. It was started July 31 by lightning and is 7 percent contained.

See also  Gallery: Florida Wildfires

All contents © copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Topics

Subscribe to Our Monthly Newsletter

Stay in the loop with our wildland newsletter.

Wildfire east of Glenwood Springs     GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — A portion of Interstate 70 remained closed in western Colorado on Tuesday because of a wildfire that broke out along the highway the day before, forcing drivers headed across the state to take long detours through the mountains. When the fire was reported […]

Get The Wildland Firefighter Newsletter

Related Articles

Evacuations Ordered for McDowell County (NC) Wildfire

Evacuations Ordered for McDowell County (NC) Wildfire

The McDowell News, Marion, N.C. (TNS) Firefighters were on the scene of a wildfire in northern McDowell County Tuesday afternoon. Evacuations were ordered for the area around the fire. As of 4:15 p.m., emergency personnel were managing the fire on Armstrong Creek...

Wildfire in Sheridan County (ND) Injures Two Firefighters

Wildfire in Sheridan County (ND) Injures Two Firefighters

BRAD NYGAARD and BLAKE NICHOLSON The Bismarck Tribune, N.D. (TNS) Two firefighters were injured while helping battle a wildfire in Sheridan County over the weekend, and one of them was flown to a Twin Cities burn hospital. The blaze Saturday also destroyed a wildland...