Residents west of Wray were asked to evacuate their homes today as a grassland wildfire, aided by high winds, swept across the eastern plains. The fire was burning along Highway 34, between Eckley and Wray, according to Wayne Johnson, owner of KRDZ radio in Wray.
Students in Wray schools were being held while an evacuation plan was considered. There was discussion that Wray’s high school student body would be evacuated and moved to Buchanan Middle Schools.
Authorities could not be reached for comment, but Johnson said certain portions of the west side of Wray, mostly outside the city limits, were being evacuated.
There were no reports of structures burned or injuries.
Authorities had not yet estimate the size a determined a cause for the blaze, Johnson said.
The chief concern at about 4 p.m., was that the flames might cross Highway 34 and consume the town.
The fire appeared to be moving west of Wray, Johnson said.
“It’s pretty intense,” he said. “Right now the fire is mostly grassland and open prairie, but there might be some oil and gas wells that were burned.”
Staff writer Manny Gonzales can be reached at 303-820-1537 or mgonzales@denverpost.com
