Quotable
“Even though we have received precipitation over the past week, the fire conditions are just as high and extreme as they were two weeks ago. The vegetation is still dead and fire spread is extremely quick.”
— KC Hume, Craig Fire/Rescue battalion chief, about high fire danger in Moffat Count
Area firefighters responded to and contained two wildfires near Craig early this week.
The first fire was reported at 2:43 p.m. Monday on Moffat County Road 210.
Craig Fire/Rescue Battalion Chief KC Hume said the fire started when an area resident was using a grinding tool cut a hole in a metal shipping container.
“As a result of the grinding the surrounding vegetation caught fire,” Hume said.
The fire grew to 2.5 acres.
Hume, who also is a lieutenant with the Moffat County Sheriff’s Office, said that resident will not be issued a citation.
Firefighters from several agencies battled a second wildfire reported at 3 p.m. Tuesday on Bureau of Land Management property off MCR 7 near mile marker 15.
Firefighters from Craig Fire/Rescue, the Moffat County Sheriff’s Office and the BLM responded to the fire along with an EMS crew from The Memorial Hospital.
According to Craig Fire/Rescue Chief Bill Johnston, the fire was nine acres in size when firefighters contained it.
The cause of the fire is unknown, and a BLM investigator is expected to be on scene tomorrow, Johnston said.
While firefighters were able to contain the two blazes, Hume said fire danger in Moffat County is still dangerously high despite recent rain.
“Even though we have received precipitation over the past week, the fire conditions are just as high and extreme as they were two weeks ago,” Hume said. “The vegetation is still dead and fire spread is extremely quick.”