Two controlled burns in Garfield County went out of control Friday and Saturday. Garfield County Sherriff’s Office and Colorado River Fire Rescue responded to a fire on Happy Dog Trail west of Rifle Gap Reservoir Friday. By the time it was extinguished it had burned about 25 acres. No one was injured and no structures were lost. Another fire south of Silt on County Road 313 also started as a “controlled burn” but quickly grew to at least 20 acres. No one was injured, but a cabin, a shed, and four vehicles were lost in the blaze.
In a press release sent out Friday Garfield County Sherrif’s office reminded residents that first responders are already spread thin due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and urged residents to reconsider burning slash piles and irrigation ditches at this time. The BLM also announced Stage 1 fire restrictions in Garfield, Eagle, and Pitkin Counties last week.
