Craig Daily Press / Meeker fire contained

Archive for Wednesday, June 28, 2006

June 28, 2006

Fire crews on Tuesday contained a small wildfire in Rio Blanco County, an official with the Rio Blanco County Sheriff's Office reported.

The Wilson Creek Fire, which burned between five and eight acres near Meeker, started Tuesday afternoon.

Fire bans limit the following activities: • Building or using any open fire or campfire, except within approved and provided fire grates at developed campgrounds, within fully enclosed stoves, enclosed charcoal grills or in stoves using pressurized liquid or gas.

• Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, building or a cleared area of at least 3 feet in diameter.

• Operating a chain saw, except those with approved spark arrestors.

• Using an acetylene welder, except in cleared areas of at least 10 feet in diameter.

• Fireworks, explosives or any incendiary device.

Mike Cook, a dispatcher with the Rio Blanco County Sheriff's Office, said the fire's size wasn't a concern to firefighters.

"It was where it was going to go that was the big concern," he said.

The fire bordered an area of dense sagebrush.

With the dry conditions throughout Northwest Colorado, if the fire reached the sagebrush, it would have spread quickly, Cook said.

The Sheriff's Office, Meeker Volunteer Fire & Rescue and Bureau of Land Management res----ponded to the fire, Cook said.

Although lightning started the Wilson Creek Fire, dry weather in Northwest Colorado means the area is still at risk for human-started fires, Cook said.

"I think it's been like two months since we've even seen rain," Cook said.

Open fires and fireworks are banned throughout Colorado.