Fire officials released an update on Sunday afternoon regarding the Iron Fire, stating that it has now been contained to more than 30%.
Before this update, the wildfire had swiftly grown to 7,361 acres in less than a day since it began in northwestern Colorado.
The fire’s rapid spread was exacerbated by adverse Red Flag weather conditions, including strong 25 mph winds and low humidity, which pushed it toward the northeast through open-range grass and sage. A spokesperson from the Bureau of Land Management, Patrick Kieran, provided this information.
Multiple firefighting teams, comprising local, state, and federal crews, have been mobilized to tackle the Iron Fire, named after its proximity to the inactive Iron Springs Mine.
A Northwest Interagency Type III team, composed of BLM teams, Moffat County road equipment like graders and bulldozers, and local fire personnel and vehicles, is actively working to create a containment line around the fire.
Kieran emphasized that the primary goal for this fire is complete suppression, aiming for a 100% containment by utilizing existing roads, trails, and the dozer line.
This strategy differs from situations in mountainous terrain where building a fire line by hand is often challenging. In such cases with low risk to homes and private property, firefighters might adopt a more passive approach, allowing the wildfire to burn naturally while monitoring its progress.
Kieran also reported that as of now, no homes or secondary structures like barns and sheds have been reported as lost. Some peripheral damage includes the burning of a corral, fencing, and power poles.
Power outages occurred when these poles burned and fell, but Yampa Valley Electric swiftly replaced them, restoring power. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported, although there are some structures in the fire’s path that remain under threat.
An extensive aerial response is currently underway, with several aircraft including single-engine air tankers (SEATs), a heavy tanker, and helicopters actively involved. Another aircraft is serving as an airborne control tower to coordinate their efforts. The state’s MMA aircraft conducted flyovers to capture infrared images and map the fire’s progress.
The Iron Fire began near the intersection of Moffat County Roads 17 and 5, approximately 18 miles northwest of Craig, on Friday. A 20-mile section of county roads in the vicinity has been closed to the public to facilitate firefighting operations.