RIFLE, Colo. — A fire in north Rifle prompted evacuations Wednesday afternoon and spread to an apartment complex that is now believed to be a "total loss," according to public safety officials.
Colorado River Fire Rescue officials said in a release that they first responded to a structure fire around 4 p.m., with initial reports indicating a backyard fire was threatening a residence.
"Due to strong winds and heavy fuel conditions, the fire quickly spread beyond the structure into the wildland area along Government Creek," Fire Chief Leif Sackett said in the release.
High winds and the "rapidly evolving incident" prompted evacuations along Willow Creek Circle and West 30th Street, the release said. It's not clear how many structures were impacted by the evacuations, but Sackett told Denver7 late Wednesday evening that two eight-unit apartment buildings would remain evacuated throughout the night.
The fire continued to burn down the creek corridor to the Rifle Creek Apartments near West 30th Street, where it spread into the roof of the eight-unit building.
"The building sustained significant damage and is believed to be a total loss," Sackett said in the release. Everyone was safely evacuated from the apartments, and a dog was successfully rescued from the building, officials said.
West 26th and West 30th streets were closed in response to the fire, according to the Rifle Police Department.
Sackett said Wednesday evening a little after 10 p.m. that the fire burned 8-10 acres and had been knocked down.
"We will continue containment and mop-up work overnight," he said in an email.
Officials said the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Colorado River Fire Rescue, Grand Valley Fire Protection District, Glenwood Springs Fire Department, Rifle Police Department, Garfield County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado Department of Transportation, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife all responded to the incident, according to the release.
Those displaced by the fire can go to the Garfield County Fairgrounds at South Hall under the grandstand, where the Red Cross and DHS will provide support, according to the police department. Journey Home Animal Care Center (1500 Prefontaine Ave.) can accept pets from those who have been evacuated.
The area was under a red flag warning and Stage 1 fire restrictions Wednesday. Another fire in the county, the Paradise Fire, prompted the closure of Interstate 70 on Tuesday.
This is a developing story that may be updated.
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