The Spring Creek 2 Fire south of Battlement Mesa and stretching into Mesa County slowed its advance Sunday after “it came really close to some houses,” a Bureau of Land Management spokesman said.
The wildfire that started Friday afternoon on private property in Garfield County had spread to 589 acres Saturday, but grew to only 621 by Sunday afternoon, said Chris Joyner of the BLM.
The fire was being fought with multiple air resources, engines, water tenders and hand crews.
Most of Saturday’s efforts were focused on the south end of the wildfire, the most active portion of the blaze as it spread into Mesa County and prompted a voluntary evacuation notice for homes in the Housetop Mesa Estates Subdivision, and areas of Housetop Mountain Road and CR 306. Daytime air drops were effective in slowing its forward progress.
Joyner said homeowners in the area had “increased defensible spaces” between their houses and the pinyon and juniper.
“It’s really critical, and these homeowners took responsible actions,” Joyner said.
He added that fire crews Sunday were working on containment and had made progress.
“It’s a lot better today,” he said.
The fire had destroyed four outbuildings, three trailers and three vehicles, but no primary residences. No one had been injured and the cause was unknown.
On Saturday, an evacuation center was set up at the Grand Valley Fire Station, 124 Stone Quarry Road in Parachute. The Red Cross was available to help evacuated residents.