CRAIG, Colo. – The Winter Valley Fire in northwest Colorado grew to 6,400 acres in size Friday night, according to an official with the Colorado State Office of the Bureau of Land Management.
The fire, which is burning a mile and a half from Elk Springs in the western part of the county, threatened 25 to 30 homes as well as oil and gas facilities and an FAA tower early Friday.
Courtney Whiteman, a spokeswoman for the Colorado Bureau of Land Management, said recommended evacuations that were placed on the are have since been lifted. US Highway 40 is also back open.
The fire started around noon Thursday and quickly got out of control amid dry, windy conditions. The exact cause of the fire is unknown.
Two hotshot crews (Alpine and Pike), a Type 2 crew, three Type 2 initial attack crews and multiple engines from federal and local agencies are assigned to the fire.
