Winds whipped a wildfire that quickly spread through dry grass and sage on the Western Slope Friday, consuming a water tender and destroying a modular home in a sparsely populated area.
No injuries were immediately reported, said Susan McBurney, a spokeswoman with the Mesa County sheriff’s department. An unknown number of residents were evacuated from the area, which is about 2 miles south of DeBeque.
The fire was reported as 5 acres at about 1:30 p.m. and in little less than three hours had grown to more than 100 acres, McBurney said.
Firefighters and 12 engines were in the area protecting homes, while two single-engine air tankers were dropping fire retardant to slow the fire’s progress.
McBurney said a Mesa County sheriff’s fire marshal was also on scene.
