RIFLE, Colo.—A wildfire estimated at 180 acres was 85 percent contained Saturday night, and all residents were allowed back home.
Crews made progress despite being pulled off fire lines briefly due to thunderstorms, lightening and erratic winds, said Rifle Fire Protection District spokesman Kevin Whelan. No injuries were reported.
Firefighters suspected lightning from storms Thursday most likely started the fire burning south of Interstate 70 about 160 miles west of Denver, Whelan said.
Dozens of homes were evacuated Friday, when flames destroyed one outbuilding. Earlier reports indicated up to three buildings had burned, but only the outbuilding was confirmed destroyed as flames moved through parched grass, sage brush and pinon trees, he said.
There were 66 personnel on the scene and 15 pieces of apparatus to fight the fire, Whelan said.
