Tree falling on dozer starts fire in Colorado

Mill Creek Fire Colorado air tanker 02

Above: Air Tanker 02, a BAe-146, makes a drop on the Mill Creek Fire. Screen shot from the Joel Reichenberger video below.

(Originally published t 9:34 a.m. MDT July 2, 2017)

The Mill Creek Fire in Colorado started Saturday when a tree fell on a bulldozer that was working in the area, according to a spokesperson from the West Routt Fire Protection District. The dozer was destroyed as the blaze spread northwest of Pilot Knob near Routt County Road 80.

The fire is 13 miles northeast of Hayden and 20 miles northwest of Steamboat Springs.

Map Mill Creek Fire Colorado
Map showing the location of the Mill Creek Fire at 3:24 a.m. MDT July 2, 2017.

As of Saturday night 116 acres had burned. Steamboat Today reported that two hotshot crews will be assigned on Sunday.

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Author: Bill Gabbert

After working full time in wildland fire for 33 years, he continues to learn, and strives to be a Student of Fire.