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Fire activity slows Wednesday near Moffat County

Craig Daily Press Staff Report
The Logging Fire, located on the east side of Douglas Mountain, is burning on about 1,144 acres. It is one of several fires crews are battling in western Moffat County and parts of Rio Blanco County. Lightning is believed to be the cause behind the fires.
Courtesy Photo

After a flurry of activity Monday and Tuesday, no new wildfires were reported Wednesday, according to the Northwest Colorado Fire Management Unit.

Twelve fires started Tuesday in western Moffat County and parts of Rio Blanco County, fire officials reported. Fire activity decreased Tuesday night due to cooler temperatures and higher relative humidity.

Eight of the 12 wildfires were contained by Wednesday, according to a news release.



The coordinated response to multiple fires “worked because the local fire organizations plan and train together,” said Mark Rogers, Northwest Colorado Fire Management Officer in the release.

“Wildland fire response has a lot of moving parts and its large scale, which requires communication and cooperation between numerous agencies and centers,” he said. “We appreciate the working relationship we have with all the local cooperators like the Moffat County Sheriff’s Office and Craig Fire/Rescue.”



Ongoing fires crews are working on are:

• The Logging Fire, located on the east side of Douglas Mountain, which encompasses about 1,144 acres. Fire officials reported the Logging Fire is 80 percent contained, with full containment expected Thursday night.

Remaining on the fire are three hand crews, one water tender and one helicopter.

• The Reed Fire, located 4 miles northeast of Greystone and encompassing 125 acres, is burning grass, brush, and pinyon and juniper trees. Resources assigned to the fire are three engines and one hand crew.

• The East Fork Fire, located about 10 miles south of Elk Springs, which encompasses 657 acres. Fire crews expected to reach full containment by Wednesday night.

• The Twin Buttes Fire, located 25 miles southwest of Rangely, in Rio Blanco County.

The fire was holding at 145 acres Wednesday.

Lightning is believed to be the cause behind all of the fires that have been reported so far.

No structures have been threatened, fire officials reported.


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