ECKLEY, Colo.—A firefighter burned while fighting a wildfire on Colorado’s plains is recovering from surgery.
Jennifer Struckmeyer was one of three people burned fighting Sunday’s 37 square mile fire in Yuma County. Sheriff Chad Day said Thursday that the surgery went better than expected and that she “continues to fight heroically every day.”
Another firefighter is receiving outpatient treatment and the third is recovering at home.
The fire destroyed two farmsteads and destroyed about 80 miles of fence. It’s also blamed for the loss of at least 40 cattle but as many as 400 head remain unaccounted for.
Day said the property damage so far is estimated at half a million dollars.
The Colorado Farm Bureau is raising money for the farmers and ranchers and a fundraiser is planned Saturday in Yuma.
