Fire forcing evacuations in part of Oak Meadows outside Glenwood Springs

UPDATE 9:10 p.m., Friday, June 22, press briefing – According to Garfield County Sheriff’s PIO Walt Stowe, the call reporting the fire first came in between 5 and 5:30 p.m. Evacuations were suggested by command staff on the scene, but were not order by the sheriff. Residents still are not being allowed back into the section of Oak Meadows near Aspen Way.

No estimate of containment, and the fire continues to burn on about 4o acres. Stowe advises that when hand crews and air support arrives in the morning, private drones are not to be used anywhere near the fire area.

“If one drone goes up there it will shut down all of the air drops until it’s known that the drone is out of the area,” he said.

There is no evacuation shelter at this time, but if one is set up it, then would likely be at Sopris Elementary School.

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8:35 p.m. – Garfield County Sheriff’s PIO Walt Stowe said the fire is at about 40 acres, and is settling down. The last air drop was in process. Seven hand crews are being ordered up for tomorrow, as the fire has slowed for the night. A press briefing is planned at Sopris Elementary soon.

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7:15 p.m. – Fire now estimated at 30 acres, one large air tanker, a type 1 helicopter and four single-engine air tankers are en route.

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6:45 p.m. – Holy Cross Energy has reportedly turned off electricity in the area due to burning power poles.

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A fire is currently burning on about 2 acres at the southern end of the Oak Meadows off Four Mile Road, forcing the evacuation of several homes in the area, according to Glenwood Springs Fire Chief Gary Tillotson.

“It looks like we have about four or five houses in the immediate vicinity of the fire,” Tillotson said. “I just arrived and am trying to get a grasp on the situation.”

Backup has been called in from Carbondale, Colorado River Fire Rescue and the BLM, and helicopters have been called in to help fight the fire, he said. The fire was reported about 5:30 p.m. on Friday, June 22.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information is made available.