A wind-whipped range fire burned across a mesa near Delta Wednesday, singeing the siding of one home, forcing the evacuation of 18 more, and injuring two firefighters.
The fire was reported on Ash Mesa three miles southwest of Delta about 11:30 a.m. It brought out about 60 firefighters from departments in Delta, Olathe, Cedaredge and Montrose. Before the fire was contained about dusk, the residents of 20 homes were evacuated to a recreation center in Delta. Firefighters were also concerned about a herd of about 500 horses near the fire.
“We had real erratic fire behavior,” said Rob Fiedler with the Delta County Sheriff’s Office.
He said winds reached 60 mph as they spread the fire across the dry mesa.
Fiedler said he does not know the extent of the firefighters’ injuries.
He said firefighters planned to monitor the fire through the night.
