Crews respond after wildfire sparks near I-70, Utah-Colorado border
GRAND COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) — A wildfire started along I-70 near the Utah-Colorado border on Monday afternoon, according to officials.
“There are no travel or highway impacts at this time,” Utah Fire Info said on social media Monday. “Smoke is blowing away from the highway.”
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Several jurisdictions are said to be working on the incident, Utah Fire Info said. The Moab Valley Fire Department said via social media that its crews were at the scene of the fire.
The fire has been named the Rabbit Valley fire, according to Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Unit. The fire has been updated to about 1,505 acres, officials said.
Air and ground firefighting resources from both Utah and Colorado have responded to the fire. Four residences were evacuated as a precaution, according to officials, but the evacuations were later lifted.
The blaze originated in Utah, but officials said it is mostly on the Colorado side of the border. As of about 8 p.m. on Monday, officials said the fire was about 20 percent contained.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
There is no further information at this time.
Here’s how you can prevent wildfires
According to BLM statewide fire prevention order UT 910-21-001, fireworks, tracer and incendiary ammunition, and explosives of any kind are prohibited year-round in Utah.
According to the BLM, there are several ways Utahns can work to prevent wildfires. A few ways you can prevent fires are listed below.
“The public is reminded to use caution and be prepared to prevent wildfires when visiting public lands,” the BLM has said. “Please keep water, a shovel and a fire extinguisher handy during the dry summer months.”
Utahns are encouraged to fully extinguish their campfires, as well as avoid building fires when winds are 15 mph or higher. Utahns should also properly dispose of cigarettes and fully extinguish them.
The BLM discourages Utahns from target shooting when the weather conditions are hot, dry, and windy. The BLM also suggests choosing a target shooting backstop that is free of rocks and dry grass, since bullets can create a spark if they hit a rock.
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