Brush fire in Northwest Colorado spreads to 500 acres

NewsNews | Jun 20, 2025

Craig Daily Press staff report

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A Colorado State Patrol vehicle on Highway 13 in Moffat County on Friday, June 20. Roads were closed in the area of a wildland fire, the Colowyo Fire, which had spread to roughly 100 acres by around 5 p.m.
*John Camponeschi/Craig Daily Press*

The Moffat County Sheriff’s Office wildfire crews, Bureau of Land Management Fire and Craig Fire Rescue responded to a wildland fire near Colorado State Highway 13 and Moffat County Road 17 around 2:30 p.m. Friday, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office.

As of 7:30 p.m., the fire, named the Colowyo fire due to its close proximity to the Colowyo Mine, had spread to roughly 500 acres, according to the Live Colorado Fire Map and Tracker.

County Road 17 is closed in both directions near the fire. Highway 13 is currently not experiencing any closures. The fire response comes on a day when Moffat County is under a red flag warning due to high winds and high temperatures.

A tanker plane flies over the Craig area on Friday, June 20, in response to a wildland fire in the area of the Colowyo Mine. The tanker circled the area before dropping a load of retardant.

“Please avoid the area and allow emergency personnel to battle the fire without interruption,” states a news release from the sheriff’s office.

Electricity within the area is being shut off, according to Colorado State Trooper Jason McGee.

McGee told a reporter around 5 p.m. that the fire is being monitored for its potential impact on Highway 13, and any subsequent closure that might occur would be put in place north of Craig, closer to the unincorporated town of Hamilton.