UPDATE: Pre-evacuation orders issued for growing wildfire near Windy Gap west of Granby
Power outages are rolling throughout the county
Sean McAlindin/Sky-Hi News
Editor’s note: This is a developing story. It will be updated as new information becomes available.
4:44 p.m. Mountain Park Electric is working with first responders and with our power transmission partners — Tri-State and WAPA — in response to the Windy Gap fire for public safety power shut offs.
“As the fire approaches transmission lines, MPE is working on de-energizing specific areas and switching — feeding power from other areas of our system,” the utility company stated on Facebook. “Outages will likely occur throughout the system and will be ongoing if the fire continues to spread. Outages will be sporadic and for various amounts of time as this switching takes place.”
Power went out in parts of Granby between 3 and 5 p.m. As of 5:15 p.m., power was in parts of Kremmling.
3:04 p.m. the Grand County Sheriff’s Office issued pre-evacuation orders for the area around the fire.
“The Windy Gap Fire has grown in size,” the Sheriff’s Office stated. “(We have) issued a pre-evacuation order, so you can prepare in the event that a mandatory evacuation order is issued. Please have all necessary items ready to go, such as a change of clothes, extra pair of shoes, prescription meds, identification, wallets, cash, water and snacks. Don’t forget your pets and their food, bowls and meds. If you do not feel safe, you can evacuate on your own. Please do not call 911 unless you have an emergency. This is a pre-evacuation notification only.”
Check GC Emergency.com and Grand County Sheriff’s Office Facebook Page for further information. View the Grand County evacuation area map here.
Mountain Parks Electric is enacting a public safety power shut-off around the area of the fire in locations that may affect power to Hot Sulphur Springs, the utility company stated on Facebook. As the fire progresses, other public safety shut-off may be required. Updates will be share on the Mountain Parks Electric Facebook page and on MPEI.com.
2:10 p.m. Highway 40 is closed west of Granby in both directions between Drowsey Water and CO 125 (one to two miles west of Granby) from mile point 208 to mile point 209. Expect delays due to fire activity. Earlier in the afternoon, there was a reduction to one-lane alternating traffic to allow for fire apparatus and emergency vehicles on the roadway.
County Road 57 has been designated as an alternate route both directions. Commercial motor vehicles are not approved for the alternate route.
Original story: Grand Fire Protection District No. 1 and the Grand County Sheriff’s Office are currently on scene of a small wildland fire in the area just west of Windy Gap Reservoir. It is estimated to be one to two acres, as of 1:30 p.m. The fire is along the side of the road near the intersection of Colorado 125 and U.S. Highway 40, just south of the burn scar left by the Troublesome Fire in 2020.
As a reminder, CodeRED is the cellular emergency notification system that Grand County uses to notify residents and visitors about time-sensitive and/or emergency information that may impact your area. Sign up your cell phone for CodeRED alerts by visiting GCEmergency.com.
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A fire burns west of Windy Gap Reservoir burns on the afternoon of Aug. 6.
Sean McAlindin/Sky-Hi News
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A helicopter shuttles water to a wildfire west of Windy Gap Reservoir on Aug. 6.
Sean McAlindin/Sky-Hi News
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A fire west of Windy Gap as seen from the Granby town line.
Sean McAlindin/Sky-Hi News
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A fire burns west of Windy Gap Reservoir burns on the afternoon of Aug. 6.
Sean McAlindin/Sky-Hi News
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U.S. Highway 40 was shut down on the afternoon of Aug. 6 near the intersection of Colorado 125 due to a wild fire burning just west of Windy Gap Reservoir.
Sean McAlindin/Sky-Hi News
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Sean McAlindin/Sky-Hi News
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