Wildfire Burns in Colo. After Controlled Burn Gets Away
Source Story by thedenverchannel.com
FORT COLLINS, Colo. -
The Poudre Fire Authority says it is fighting a wildfire on Tuesday at Cobb Lake State Wildlife Area near Wellington.
Larimer County Sheriff Lt. John Schulz said the fire was started as an irrigation ditch burn before raging out of control at about 12:30 p.m.
Poudre Fire Capt. Patrick Love said the fire has been mostly stopped on the east and the north at Larimer County Roads 3 and 58. But he cautioned firefighters still don't have the entire blaze contained.
"The fire is moving in a northernly and north-westernly direction," Love said.
To help firefighters get a handle on the blaze, crews will ignite a burn-back operation. Love said this will create more smoke in the area.
Schulz said residents within a one-mile radius of the 5400 block of County Road 58 were notified by phone about a possible evacuation. Schulz said the emergency notification told residents to be ready to move animals and evacuate if necessary.
No evacuations have been ordered yet, Love said.
Winds were gusting at 10 mph, Love said. He added the dry conditions are firefighters' biggest concern.
"Everything is dry," Schulz said.
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