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One of four aircraft from the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control helps fight the July 1 fire southeast of Holyoke.

Back-to-back pasture fires burn southeast of town last week

Two pasture fires burned nearly 1,400 acres of land southeast of Holyoke last week, and dry conditions have locals hoping for some much-needed rain.

Holyoke Volunteer Fire Department was called to the first fire Tuesday, June 30, at 4:42 p.m.

Firefighters from the Amherst, Sandhills, Wages and Wauneta fire departments helped HVFD with the fire that ultimately burned approximately 750 acres.

The following day, July 1, HVFD got called to another pasture fire — also southeast of Holyoke — at 4:09 p.m. The fire burned approximately 640 acres.

Other departments on scene Wednesday were Amherst, Sandhills, Wages, Wauneta, Haxtun and Wray. Also assisting with the fire were four airplanes from the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control. Two single-engine air tankers and one large air tanker all dropped fire retardant, while a multi-mission aircraft provided situational awareness from the sky to help the crews on the ground.

On both days, said HVFD Chief Stacy Rueter, the fires went around irrigated cornfields and instead burned the much drier grasses and other plants.

“There’s a lot of fuel out there for fires,” said Phillips County Emergency Manager Bob Heldenbrand. “We need rain.”

He said the biggest challenge in last week’s fires was the terrain of the land, which included some sandhills.

Rueter gave much thanks on behalf of HVFD to the local individuals and companies that brought water as well as farmers who assisted the fire departments with tractors and discs.

Holyoke Enterprise

970-854-2811 (Phone)

130 N Interocean Ave
PO Box 297
Holyoke CO 80734