Wildfires Force New Evacuations Across Rio Blanco and Garfield Counties

By  Spencer Kristensen | KDVR Fox 31

DENVER (KDVR) — As crews continue to battle wildfires across the state, more evacuations and pre-evacuations have been ordered due to several fires growing in size.

Multiple agencies in different jurisdictions around Colorado ordered a new round of evacuations and pre-evacuations on Wednesday afternoon.

Rio Blanco County: Lee and Elk Fires

There are two large wildfires in Rio Blanco County that have burned more than 30,000 acres.

Evacuations have already been sent for certain areas in the county, and the Rio Blanco Sheriff’s Office continued with more evacuations and pre-evacuations on Wednesday.

Zone 40

Zone 40 is located southwest of Meeker and just east of Lion Canyon. The area contains a stretch of Highway 13.

Immediate evacuations are ordered for the area.

Zone 40 can be viewed on the Rio Blanco County website.

Zone 41

Zone 41 is a pre-evacuation order.

The sheriff’s office said to begin packing belongings, and if anyone is in need of more time, begin leaving already.

Zone 41 is just north of Zone 40 and covers a large portion of Meeker.

The sheriff’s office said that grass and irrigated fields are holding the fire well, but the potential for it to jump is why pre-evacuations are ordered.

Grand County

The Grand County Sheriff’s Office said that pre-evacuations have been issued because the Windy Gap Fire has grown in size.

An evacuation map can be found on the Grand County Sheriff’s Office website.

Zone G48

Zone G48 is also on pre-evacuation orders.

The zone covers the area west of Granby.

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