Previous Next

Here are the wildfires currently burning in Colorado

KUSA-TV Denver 6/23/2021 Darren Whitehead

Timelapse of smoke from Muddy Slide Fire

KUSA-TV Denver See more videos

What to watch next

Senate passes $40 billion Ukraine aid package Congress passed an aid package for Ukraine worth $40 billion that includes military, economic and humanitarian assistance. President Biden, who is overseas in Asia, plans to sign the bill while traveling. NBC News
Buffalo shooting suspect pleads not guilty at arraignment The suspect accused of carrying out the Buffalo supermarket shooting appeared in court before a grand jury and the victims' families, facing charges of first-degree murder for allegedly killing 10 people, all of whom were Black. NBC News
Florida police announce charges for biker and deputy after taser likely set man on fire Surveillance video was released showing 26-year-old Jean Barreto covered in flames at an Orlando gas station after a deputy allegedly dislodged a taser at the biker. Barreto and the deputy are now both facing charges. NBC News

UP NEXT

Fire crews are battling a number of blazes around Colorado. The fires are burning around the state from far northwestern Colorado to the Western Slope and in north-central Colorado.

>Video above: The Eagle Valley Wildland Team brings together agencies from across the area to train to fight wildfires like the Sylvan Fire.

The fires are causing air quality concerns in northwest Colorado and the state health department expanded an Air Quality Health Advisory for wildfire smoke to include Routt and Eagle counties on Wednesday and Thursday.

The latest on all the wildfires burning around Colorado

KUSA-TV Denver See more videos

What to watch next

UP NEXT

To check for the latest air quality advisories, go to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's site.

The roundup of the fires burning are below.

Sylvan Fire

Size: 3,752 acres

Location: 16 miles south of Eagle

Containment: 0%

Cause: Suspected lightning, but still being investigated

The Sylvan Fire was first reported on Sunday, June 20 at around 3:15 p.m.

The fire, which is burning in lodgepole pine and other timber, grew rapidly Tuesday afternoon and evening forcing Eagle County officials to call for evacuations for a number of areas. They are:

Fulford
Sylvan Lake State Park
Crooked Creek Pass
Yeoman Park
Lede Reservoir area
Harscrabble
Hat Creek
Peter Estin Hut

Pre-evacuation notices have been ordered for residents in the areas of:

Frost Creek
Salt Creek
Bruce Creek

In Pitkin County, officials said residents in the upper Frying Pan Valley with livestock needed to evacuate their animals. Click here to see where livestock can be taken.

Muddy Slide Fire

Size: 4,056 acres

Location: 20 miles west of Kremmling

Containment: 0%

Cause: Unknown

The Muddy Slide Fire was first reported on Sunday, June 20.

The fire was very active Tuesday, causing the Routt County Sheriff's Office to upgrade a voluntary evacuation to a mandatory evacuation for residents on Routt County Road 16 from mile marker 12 to Highway 134. Evacuated residents can go to Soroco High School in Oak Creek.

Evacuated residents with livestock can take them to the Hayden Fairgrounds. People with pets can drop off their animals with the Routt County Humane Society in Steamboat Springs, but they need to call first to make sure someone is on site. The Humane Society's number is 970-879-1090.

Oil Springs Fire

Size: 12,648

Location: 20 miles south of Rangely

Containment: 0%

Cause: Lightning

The Rio Blanco Sheriff's Office has lifted all of the evacuations related to this fire, and reopened County roads 23, 103 and 122, though Highway 139 remains closed in the area.

Crews are working to bolster the containment line along this read. The portion of the fire burning in the Oil Springs Mountain Wilderness Study Area remains unstaffed, and plans are being developed to firefighters can go to work here as soon as they are assigned.

Water drops are underway, and Thursday is expected to bring isolated showers and thunderstorms with strong winds to the area. Firefighters said all the vegetation near the burn area is "critically dry," and fire growth is expected where there is not vegetation.

Wild Cow Fire

Size: 553 acres

Location: 38 miles north-northwest of Fruita

Containment: Unknown

Cause: Lightning is suspected

The Wild Cow Fire was first reported Monday, June 21 at around 4:30 p.m.

The fire is burning in western Garfield County west of Highway 139 and just east of Baxter Pass.

There was active fire behavior Tuesday due to winds, fuels and terrain, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) officials said. Wednesday's fire activity could be extreme due to hot, dry conditions and low humidity, the BLM said.

West Fire

a train on a track with smoke coming out of it

Size: 3,401 acres

Location: 80 miles northwest of Craig

Containment: 30%

Cause: Lightning

The West Fire was first reported on Sunday, June 20 just after noon.

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) firefighters were actively engaging the fire on Middle Mountain in the northwest corner of Moffat County. Eleven engines, two Hot Shot crews, around 120 firefighters and two helicopters are fighting the fire.

The fire was burning in heavy lodgepole pine, and no structures were threatened. The suspected cause of the fire was lightning.

Moffat County Road 72 was closed, and people were asked to avoid the area.

The BLM said Tuesday the fire had crossed into southwestern Wyoming.

SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Wildfires in Colorado

Go to MSN Home

Here are the wildfires currently burning in Colorado

Sylvan Fire

Muddy Slide Fire

Oil Springs Fire

Wild Cow Fire

West Fire

More from KUSA-TV