Carbondale residents were allowed to go home about 3 p.m. Wednesday after a windy blaze Tuesday forced the evacuation of about 500 homes west of town.
Several homes were damaged and one man was burned on his hands as the fire consumed more than 1,000 acres near Colorado 82 and Garfield County Road 100, also known as Catherine Stone Road.
The fire was declared contained about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.
An area with a radius of 3 miles from the intersection of the two roads was evacuated Tuesday when the fire broke out. The fire jumped the Roaring Fork River and Colorado 82, the main road in the valley linking Glenwood Springs with Aspen.
On Tuesday the winds had gusted to 60 mph, said Garfield County spokeswoman Tamara Blackard.
Forty-seven agencies fought the fire with 140 personnel. Volunteers equaled that number.
The American Red Cross set up shelters at Roaring Fork High School in Carbondale and at the El Jebel Community Center.
The weather turned to the firefighters’ advantage, with very cool conditions and snow expected.
By Wednesday afternoon, the fire was about 70 percent contained, with numerous crews working against it.
Mike McPhee: 303-954-1409 or mmcphee@denverpost.com
