STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. – Additional firefighting crews are arriving to help battle a wildfire that’s burning out of control in northwestern Colorado.
The Deep Creek Fire in Routt County started on Monday north of Hayden. It’s since grown to more than 2,200 acres. Firefighters said Wednesday morning that the fire was still zero percent contained.
Getting help fighting the fire has been difficult as resources from around the country are sent farther west to deal with fires raging in Oregon, California and Montana.
A hotshot team from Wyoming arrived at the fire Tuesday night and a Type 2 team – which indicates an increase in complexity – was expected to be on site Wednesday. Two helicopters are helping fight the fire from above.
Morning fire briefing. Rocky Mountain Black Type 2 Team will take over command at noon today. Stressing safety this morning. #DeepCreekFire pic.twitter.com/Ovy0ptbiYt
— Liz Gelardi (@LizGelardi) September 6, 2017
One ranch had to be evacuated because of the fire and 42 other addresses within a five-mile radius are on notice.
It’s not yet clear what started the fire, but investigators believe a lightning strike is the most likely cause.
The Deep Creek Fire is one of two fires currently burning in Routt County. The Big Red Fire was started by a lightning strike early in August and as of Tuesday, the blaze had burned more than 1,400 acres and was zero percent contained.
