Residents in the areas southwest of Rifle are under evacuation as a brush fire continues its destructive path in Garfield County. According to Denver7, the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office issued evacuation orders encompassing an area about a mile west and east of the intersection of County Road 309 and 320 on Thursday afternoon.
As the community responds to the wildfires, officials have set up evacuation centers segmented by location. The Garfield County Fairgrounds is serving as a shelter for those on the east side of the evacuation zone, while the Parachute Fairgrounds is receiving evacuees from the west. These measures come as multiple units are on the scene fighting to keep the flames at bay, as reported by 9News.
The brush fire, fueling fears and evacuations, has already destroyed a home and an RV near Rulison and has consumed approximately 375 acres of terrain. Colorado River Fire and Rescue, along with Grand Valley Fire, the Northwest Interagency Fire Management Team, and several other departments and agencies, have come together to confront the escalating threat. Even aerial resources have been dispatched to help control the wildfire's spread.
Despite the efforts of these crews, the full scope of the fire's damage is still unfolding. Yet, there's a glimmer of hope as the Garfield County Sheriff's Office indicated, "the cooler nighttime air and slower winds could help with control operations," as reported by KDVR.
