The Wild Rose Fire is on the west side of Texas Mountain spreading primarily to the east. High winds have pushed the fire through the pinion and juniper trees and the fire is now 850 acres.
Hampering firefighting efforts is limited access, rugged terrain, thick smoke and high winds. Fire fighters observed embers spotting up to one half mile.
All oil and gas facilities are shut down and Encana employees have left the area. Rangely Volunteer Fire Department is providing fire protection for the buildings at the Encana station.
For public and fire fighter safety road closures are in place and being managed by Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office and RBC Road and Bridge. Closed: Rio Blanco County Road 116 closed from Highway 139 to RBCR 113; RBCR 107 closed from Highway 139 to RBCR 116.
A Rocky Mountain Type 2 Incident Management Team has been ordered to assist with the management of the Wild Rose Fire. The IMT is anticipated arrive tomorrow afternoon.
“Delegating management of our largest incident to the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team will allow us to focus on existing and new wildfires,” said Jim Michels Northwest Colorado Fire Management Duty Officer.
There are two other smaller wildland fires in Rio Blanco County. One is in the Piceance Basin about 40 miles southwest of Meeker in Ryan Gulch on BLM land. Meeker Volunteer Fire Department is assisting with the five acre fire through a mutual aid agreement. The other wildfire is one tenth acre across Highway 139 near the Wild Rose Fire.
No injuries reported. No structures reported damaged or destroyed.
Information from BLM public information officer.
