Residents west of Wray were asked to evacuate their homes Wednesday afternoon as a grassland wildfire, pushed by high winds, swept across the Eastern Plains.
The blaze scorched about 23,000 acres and burned at least seven outbuildings, forcing the closure of a major highway and injuring four firefighters, before burning itself out, Yuma County Sheriff’s officials said.
The fire burned along U.S. 34, between Eckley and Wray, near the Nebraska border in far eastern Colorado, according to Wayne Johnson, owner of KRDZ radio in Wray.
The four injured firefighters were taken to a hospital in Wray. Two were treated for minor burns and released, while the other two were admitted, also with burns.
Initial reports said the fire, which was reported about 12:30 p.m., stretched for 10 miles. Undersheriff Rick Schorzman said the structures destroyed by the blaze were outbuildings such as sheds.
Residents living in the rural areas near the fire were told by reverse 911 calls to evacuate, but were allowed to return about 7:15 p.m. Students and faculty from Wray High School and Wray Grade School also were evacuated to another school in the town.
One patient was evacuated from Wray Community District Hospital, but was returned later in the evening, hospital administrator Ed Finley said.
No residents were expected to be displaced Wednesday night because of the fire, the Sheriff’s Office said. Firefighters planned to remain overnight to watch for flare-ups.
Authorities had not yet determined a cause.
Fire activity for the year is already above the five-year average, which includes Colorado’s worst season on record in 2002, said Larry Helmerick of the Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center.
The five-year average through this date for Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, Kansas and Nebraska is eight fires covering 1,146 acres, Helmerick said.
This year, there have been 64 fires over 27,700 acres, not including the fires Wednesday, he said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Staff writer Manny Gonzales can be reached at 303-820-1537 or mgonzales@denverpost.com.
