VIDEO: Delta County issued evacuations for the Lerouz Fire that erupted near Hotchkiss on August 3. Evacuations were issued for those living off 3100 Road north of the Oak Mesa Road intersection. As of 5:30 p.m. on August 4, the Leroux Fire burns at 700 acres with 0% containment.
John Wroblewski, Southwest District Fire Mitigation Education Specialist for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), said local agencies, volunteers, and federal resources are currently battling the fire. โTo combat this fire, we just have ground resources right now, actually being engaged, structure protection, walking the fireโs edge, and also air resources,โ said Wroblewski.
Wroblewski said a lightning strike caused the Leroux Fire. Crews from Hotchkiss, Paonia, and Crawford have assisted the BLM and Forest Service workers who are also on scene.
โEvery fire presents very unique challenges in its own manner, with definitely evacuations that are in order, the weather conditions always provide a huge challenge. Just hot, dry, windy, the southwest-facing slope, steep slopes. All the above always provide some challenges, but with the resources on scene and what we have, weโll get a handle on it,โ he said.
