By The Denver Post
A brush fire most likely caused by lightning burned about 180 acres in Rulison, west of Rifle, on Friday destroying one small farm structure and forcing the evacuation of 60 homes.
Saturday morning, Garfield County officials said the fire was 70 percent contained and most residents had been allowed to return. Firefighting aircraft were used extensively on Friday and were on standby today, the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office said.
County officials said earlier reports that a home had been destroyed were wrong.
About 15 pieces of equipment and 66 emergency responders from nine agencies remained on the scene, as firefighters built containment lines around the site, officials said.
Weather conditions remained a concern, said Kevin Whelan, spokesman for the Rifle Fire Protection District. “The hot, dry, windy conditions can change that fire dramatically,” Whelan said.
Rulison is west of Rifle, on the south side of Interstate 70.
