Wildfire mopped up near New Castle over the weekend
Garfield County Sheriff’s Office
A fire that broke out on the side of a hill south of New Castle was mopped up over the weekend by the Colorado River Fire Rescue, a Garfield County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson said. No injuries were reported.
Garfield County Communications Officer Walt Stowe said the fire was originally reported around 3 p.m. Saturday. A helicopter was called in with a bucket for a water drop.
The fire partly made its way up Burning Mountain near a coal seam. Explosive mining disasters occurred in the late 19th century in the area, causing underground fires that are still active to this day.
“(There is the) possibility it was the old coal seam fire surfacing once again, but this has not been verified,” Stowe said.
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