Multiple fires were burning in eastern Colorado on Wednesday night, according to officials in Yuma County. At about 9:30 p.m., the following was posted to the Yuma County Office of Emergency Management Facebook page:
“Attention Yuma County Residents:
Multiple fires are currently burning throughout the county, and strong winds may cause them to spread rapidly. If a fire is approaching your home, evacuate immediately. Use the highway to travel to the nearest town and turn on your vehicle’s hazard lights while driving. Please stay alert, follow emergency instructions, and prioritize your safety.”
The county put out a call for help to farmers, asking if anyone had a tractor and disk ready to deploy to help out. Multiple shelters were opened and then closed.
According to Scripps News Group in Denver, the only fire that was active as of 3 a.m. Thursday was in a rural area of the county, south of Eckley near the Heartstrong neighborhood. That fire has burned an estimated 40,000 acres as of 2:30 a.m. Thursday, according to Jake Rockwell, emergency manager for Yuma County Office of Emergency Management. Officials also told Scripps News Group Denver they believe downed power lines sparked the fires.
