GUNNISON — Authorities say cooler temperatures and calmer winds have helped crews control two wildfires near Gunnison.
A wildfire that was reported Friday afternoon burned an estimated 69 acres north of Gunnison and was fully contained Saturday. The blaze prompted the evacuations of 58 homes, but residents were allowed to return home Friday evening.
Meanwhile, crews had a 125-acre fire west of the town about 25 percent contained Saturday afternoon.
Also Friday, 50 people were evacuated to a school after a gigantic haystack at the Daisy Lane Dairy burst into flame near Anton, authorities say. Winds whipping up to 35 mph were blowing embers into a grass field near trailers housing dairy workers and their families around 8 p.m., said Mike McCaleb, emergency management director of Washington County. Dairy workers were grinding hay about 1 p.m. when the machine they were using overheated and ignited a haystack about 25 feet high and the length of two football fields, McCaleb said. About 30 firefighters from four fire departments responded and contained the blaze.
