This update provided by BLM PIO Lynn Barclay at 11:30 a.m. on July 25, 2014.
There has been no real perimeter growth on the 20,690-acre Alkali Fire burning 14 miles north of Maybell. The fire area received scattered showers through the night and fire activity has been minimal. Fire crews continue to build containment lines and extinguish hot spots. A homestead cabin, barn and propane tank were destroyed the first evening the wildland fire erupted. The fire is primarily on private land, with a small amount of Bureau of Land Management public lands and 50 percent contained with full containment expected Sunday, July 27. The cause remains under investigation.
The 276-acre Carl’s Hole Fire on BLM land about 30 miles west of Meeker is 75 percent contained. The fire was started Tuesday night by lightning. No structures are immediately threatened.
Northwest Colorado received more than 7,000 lightning strikes yesterday and responded to 20 new wildland fires in Rio Blanco County. Wildland fire crews were able to contain many of the incidents during initial attack.
