Utah agencies responded to assist with a small wildland fire in Colorado on a Tuesday before it could grow into another major wildfire. The Grand County Sheriff's Office, along with Grand County EMS and Summit Fire & EMS, joined Colorado state and federal agencies to fight the 333 Fire near Williams Fork Reservoir, which is located about 17 miles east of Kremmling.
The Grand County Sheriff's Office reported that its crews responded just after 7 p.m. when the fire was initially reported at less than five acres. Within one hour, the fire more than doubled in size to roughly 12 acres, which forced residents in the immediate area to evacuate.
By 11 p.m. on Tuesday, the Grand County Sheriff's Office stated that fire crews would remain on scene throughout the night to mop up hot spots and noted there were no additional needs for evacuations.
A Red Flag Warning was issued for a large portion of Colorado, including the Williams Fork Reservoir area and parts of southeast Utah. The National Weather Service forecasted sustained winds of up to 20 miles per hour with gusts as high as 35 miles per hour, noting that fires can catch and spread quickly under such conditions. The National Weather Service also advised exercising extreme caution with any outdoor burning.
Agencies in both Utah and Colorado have faced a difficult start to the wildfire season. According to Utah Fire Info, firefighters in the Beehive State were battling nine large wildfires that had not yet been fully contained. In Colorado, firefighters were battling six large wildfires, including the Snyder Fire on the Utah-Colorado border, which resulted in the deaths of three firefighters and injuries to two others during a burn over event.
