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A ranger’s truck parks by the side of U.S. Highway 40 on Wednesday morning near a patch of grass burned in the Sand Fire about 10 miles west of Craig.

Photo by Bridget Manley |

Ash covers the ground along U.S. Highway 40 about 10 miles west of Craig in the aftermath of the Sand Fire. The Sand Fire began at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday and covered an estimated 2000 acres. According to Michael Anthony, a Moffat County Sheriff deputy, as of 10:30 a.m. this morning the fire was 95 percent contained, but not out.

Photo by Nate Waggenspack |

A fencepost stands sentinel over a swath of blackened sagebrush Wednesday morning at Tinneal and Wade Gerber’s ranch west of Craig. The Sand Fire burned an estimated 2,000 acres but resulted in no reported injuries, fatalities or structure fires.

Photo by Nate Waggenspack |

Scorched ground and ash were widespread as a result of the Sand Fire, which started Tuesday evening. The fire burned an estimated 2,000 acres about 10 miles west of Craig. As of Wednesday morning, the fire was 95 percent contained, according to authorities.

Photo by Nate Waggenspack |

Tyler Gerber, 15, left, and his brother Kearn, 14, stand near a four-wheeler they used Wednesday to repair fence on the family ranch after Tuesday’s Sand Fire about 10 miles west of Craig. Tyler saw the blaze soon after it ignited, and he was “praying that it wouldn’t get on our place, but that didn’t happen,” he said. The fire blackened parts of their grazing land but did not damage the family’s home.

Photo by Bridget Manley |

Tyler Gerber, 15, throws hay to a group of steers on the family ranch Wednesday morning. Tyler and his family moved the steers and other livestock Tuesday night as the Sand Fire moved rapidly across the sagebrush toward their home. Their house was not damaged, and the family was able to return to their home later Tuesday night.

Photo by Nate Waggenspack |