By Ivan Moreno
Rocky Mountain News (Denver)
Copyright 2006 Denver Publishing Company
GARDNER, Colo. — More than 100 firefighters continued battling a blaze Wednesday that forced four families to evacuate their homes.
The Sheep Fire, so called because of its location on Sheep Mountain, has burned about 100 acres of mostly private land since Monday afternoon. Parts of federal- and state- owned land also have burned.
A 20-member San Juan Hotshot crew worked the fire through the night Tuesday, and 120 firefighters from across the state were on the ground by Wednesday morning, said Ralph Bellah, fire information officer.
A bulldozer and a helicopter were also on hand to aid ground crews, Bellah said.
The fire, which officials said was human-caused, was more than 20 percent contained by the afternoon. However, no timeline has been set for when the four evacuated houses can be occupied again.
Larry Klock, with the National Forest Service in Pueblo, said the fire is a reminder to people with houses in rural areas that they need to work to mitigate fire dangers around their homes.
He said people should clear tree lines, brush, and grass around their houses as well as move any propane tanks.
“That’s where they can help themselves, and they can help us as firefighters,” Klock said.