Strong winds fuel wildfires in Yuma County Wednesday night into Thursday - Overnight evacuations

Multiple fast-moving grass fires fueled by powerful winds prompted widespread evacuations across Yuma County late Wednesday night.

Yuma County Emergency Management issued fire weather evacuation notices as strong winds rapidly spread several fires. Evacuation orders were issued for the Joes and Kirk area, the Wray and Eckley area, and the Yuma area.

Emergency shelters were opened at the Grassroots Center in Joes, Wray EMS facilities, and Yuma High School as residents were urged to leave immediately if fires approached their location.

Officials advised drivers to avoid travel in Yuma County unless absolutely necessary, warning of fire activity, debris on roadways, and downed power lines. Residents were also asked to drive slowly with hazard lights on and follow directions from law enforcement and fire crews.

According to the National Weather Service in Denver, wind gusts reached extreme levels across eastern Colorado. Gusts exceeded seventy miles per hour in multiple locations, including near Briggsdale and Fort Morgan. Along the Front Range, widespread gusts of seventy to eighty miles per hour were reported, with isolated gusts topping one-hundred-ten miles per hour in higher terrain.

At the height of the incident, several fires were burning across Yuma County. The largest fire was located south of Eckley, stretching from County Road thirty-two north to County Road twenty-seven. Additional fires were reported near Roads forty-four and Q to the north, and near Roads L and two to the south.

By early Thursday morning, officials said several fires were contained and in the mop-up phase. The fire south of Eckley remained active around three a.m., but crews reported they were gaining control.

Emergency shelters closed around two a.m. as evacuation needs decreased. No injuries were reported, and damage assessments are ongoing. Fire crews from Sterling, Peetz, and Merino assisted with the response.