Colorado River Fire Rescue

06/24/2026

🚨FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE🚨
Colorado River Fire Rescue Responds to Wind-Driven Wildland Fire Near Rifle
RIFLE, Colo. — June 23, 2026, At approximately 3:20 p.m. today, Colorado River Fire Rescue was dispatched to a reported structure fire at 899 Gage Road near Rifle. While responding, updated information indicated that brush was burning and spreading toward a structure.
Responding units observed a significant smoke column en route and requested mutual aid from Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Unit, Glenwood Springs Fire Department and the Grand Valley Fire Protection District. Upon arrival, firefighters found a rapidly spreading wildland fire being driven by strong winds to the east and southeast.
Due to the fire’s growth and the threat to infrastructure, the Mountain Area Mutual Aid (MAMA) system was activated, bringing additional resources from Eagle and Pitkin counties to assist with suppression efforts.
As of this evening, the fire has burned approximately 288 acres. One residence and one outbuilding have been confirmed lost. Fire crews continue to work through the night to contain the fire and protect threatened structures and critical infrastructure. All evacuations will remain in place overnight.
The Upper Colorado River (UCR) Type III Incident Management Team has been ordered and will assume command of the incident at 7:00 a.m. tomorrow.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Colorado River Fire Rescue would like to remind residents that Garfield County is moving into Stage II Burn Restrictions on Friday, June 25, 2026. Current conditions are extremely dry, and any spark could start a fast-moving wildfire. Residents and visitors are urged to exercise extreme caution in all outdoor activities and strictly comply with burn restrictions.
Colorado River Fire Rescue thanks our mutual aid partners and cooperating agencies for their assistance and continued support during this incident. We appreciate Garfield County Emergency Communications Authority for support during this incident.
For additional information and updates, please follow the official Colorado River Fire Rescue communication channels.
Leif Sackett
Fire Chief Colorado
River Fire Rescue

06/23/2026

Dry Creek Fire

🚨UPDATE at 5:47 p.m. 🚨
⚠️Please follow https://www.garfieldcounty.net/ for evacuation updates!!!
⚠️ALL evacuees can go to the Garfield County Fairgrounds in Rifle.
🔌⚡ For power outage information, please go to https://co.my.xcelenergy.com/s/outage-safety/outage-map
*Acreage has been updated to 287.8 acres.

⚠️UPDATE at 4:34 p.m.⚠️
The UCR Type 3 Incident Management Team has been ordered. ICP Location is being established.
Additional air resources have been ordered including, two large air tankers, two helicopters, and Air Attack.

⚠️UPDATE at 4:27 p.m.⚠️
The fire has jumped County Road 319. Additional mutual aid resources have been requested by Incident Command.

🚨 Structure/Wildfire Response 🚨

Crews are on scene of a structure and grass fire south of Rifle on Gage Road. Additional structures and gas infrastructures are threatened.

Air Resources, Mutual Aid, and Interagency resources have also been ordered.

Evacuations are in progress for Gage Road and moving into Grass Mesa Area.

Please avoid the area and give emergency responders room to work. Use caution if traveling nearby and watch for emergency vehicles.

More information will be shared as it becomes available.

06/22/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Colorado River Fire Rescue Contains Barn Fire in Silt, Prevents Spread to Adjacent Structure

SILT, Colo. - Colorado River Fire Rescue crews responded to a structure fire near County Road 346 in Silt at 2:54 p.m. Upon arrival, firefighters found a fully engulfed barn with flames threatening to spread to a nearby lean-to and a much larger barn housing animals.

The homeowner and firefighters worked quickly to evacuate the animals from the larger barn. Crews were then able to stop the fire from spreading, and the fire was declared extinguished at 3:15 p.m.

Colorado River Fire Rescue responded with two water tenders, two ambulances, one ladder truck, two engines, a Battalion Chief, a District Chief, and a Fire Marshal. Glenwood Springs Fire was initially dispatched but was cancelled while en route. The Colorado State Patrol and the Garfield County Sheriff's Office also assisted on scene.

No additional information is available at this time regarding the cause of the fire or any damage estimates.

06/19/2026

𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐨 𝐑𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐢𝐟𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐨 𝐑𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐢𝐟𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

RIFLE, Colo. — Following the investigation into the June 10 structure and wildland fire near Willow Creek Circle and Government Creek, investigators have identified an area of origin and determined the fire was human-caused. However, the specific ignition source has not yet been identified.

Investigators are asking for the public's assistance. Witnesses reported seeing a female leaving the area around the time of the fire with soot visible on her face. At this time, investigators are seeking additional information regarding this individual and any circumstances surrounding the incident. Anyone who may have information related to the fire is encouraged to contact the Rifle Police Department at (970) 625-8095 and ask to speak with Sgt. Dewey Ryan.

As fire danger remains elevated throughout the region, Garfield County continues to operate under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions. Residents and visitors are reminded to exercise caution with any activity that could create a spark or ignite dry vegetation.

Please be responsible and do your part to help prevent wildfires in our community.

Additional information will be released as it becomes available.


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06/16/2026

Red flag warning is in effect 06/16/26 from 1:00 PM to 06/16/26 at 9:00 PM. No open burning permitted.

06/15/2026

🚨Road Closed🚨
Highway 6 is closed between Mile Pond Road and Peterson Lane in Rifle due to a fire 🔥 Crews are currently responding to a grass fire. Use alternate routes and allow emergency personnel space to work safely.

06/13/2026

06/13/2026

Congratulations on 20 years, Doug!!

Doug Richards has been with Burning Mountains/Rifle/Colorado River Fire Rescue for 20 years!

There’s been a lot of ducks in storm drains and cats in trees during his time as well as plenty of other memorable calls. Outside of work Doug volunteers for Garfield County Search and Rescue, never straying away from being a helping hand.

Doug is currently stationed at Station 41 where he’s enjoying cake and ice cream with his crew tonight(an engineer’s favorite).

Congratulations Doug!

06/11/2026

Colorado River Fire Rescue has released an updated press release regarding yesterday’s fire.

Our hearts go out to all the families involved.

We would also like to thank our neighboring agencies and partners who assisted during the incident, including Grand Valley Fire Protection District, Glenwood Springs Fire Department, Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District, Rifle Police Department, Garfield County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Forest Service, and other cooperating agencies.

Thank you for your partnership and support.

Photos from yesterday’s fire are included below.

06/11/2026