A 1,680-acre fire burning grasslands and brush along the Arkansas River in southeastern Colorado Wednesday morning drew firefighters from multiple agencies with air support.
The Gageby Creek fire broke out Tuesday afternoon amid hot, dry and windy conditions west of Lamar and north of John Martin Reservoir, forcing the closure of U.S. Highway 50, which on Wednesday morning had reopened, Bent County Sheriff Jake Six said, confirming dispatcher reports that the blaze was still burning.
Air tankers on Tuesday dropped water on the flames and a helicopter crew on Wednesday morning was assessing the fire.
The fire, which was 40% contained as of Wednesday morning, did not damage buildings and no injuries were reported, Six said. The cause of the fire remains uncertain, he said. “Fire investigators are on scene today.”
Firefighters with Las Animas Fire Department, Hasty/McClave Fire Department and the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention & Control are working on the fire.
