A wind-driven wildfire near Rifle along the Western Slope has destroyed two structures and forced people to leave their homes as firefighters continue to battle the flames Wednesday.
The Dry Creek fire has burned about 315 acres, after igniting Tuesday afternoon south of Rifle, fire officials with the Colorado River Fire Rescue said. Crews worked through the night to protect threatened structures after a home and an outbuilding were lost in the fire Tuesday.
Evacuation orders remain in effect Wednesday ahead of what fire officials predict will be “extreme fire behavior” and forecasted winds.
“Firefighter and public safety remain the top priority,” the fire rescue said in an update Wednesday morning. “Crews are utilizing a full suppression strategy with direct and indirect tactics to slow the fire’s spread and construct containment lines around the fire.”
The Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Unit Type Team 3 took control of managing the fire in Garfield County from local agencies at 7 a.m.
It is not clear what started the fire, and officials are investigating. On Tuesday, firefighters en route to the fire on Gage Road were told brush was burning and spreading toward a structure. When they arrived, crews saw a “rapidly spreading wildfire being driven by strong winds to the east and southeast,” according to the Colorado River Fire Rescue.
This is a developing story that will be updated.