Grand County officials have told residents who live near a rapidly spreading wildfire west of Fraser to be prepared to evacuate, said Jodie Kern, communications officer with the Grand County Sheriff’s Department.
The blaze, which started near Sheep Mountain at about 12:30 p.m. today spread to 300 acres by evening. “It was originally reported at 10 acres,” said Steve Segin, spokesman for the Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center.
Kern said she didn’t know how many people live in the vicinity of the fire, which is burning near the Church Park hiking area. “Every fire department in the county has people there, the (U.S) Forest Service as well,” she added.
The RMACC dispatched four heavy air tankers and seven ground crews to fight the blaze.
Segin said cooler weather is expected on Monday and that he expects the fire to be of short duration. “It is Fall, we don’t have the heat,” he said.
