Delaware firefighters join wildfire fight in Colorado
A team of 17 firefighters from precincts across Delaware travelled to Meeker, Colorado on Sunday to help the Northwest Colorado Fire Management unit quell a wild fire ignited by a lightning strike on July 7th.
The fire spans 300 acres nine miles north of Meeker, Colorado, and is being battled by 146 first responders.
As of this morning, officials approximate that 15 percent of the fire has been contained, but that it still poses a threat to natural resources in the area including oil and gas production equipment.
The crews plan to control the fire by utilizing a firefighting technique called ‘back burning’, in which crews literally fight fire with fire. By burning areas of trees surrounding the fire, the fire will be deprived of fuel and therefore unable to continue to spread.
Impending thunderstorms and strong winds are anticipated to exacerbate the fire this afternoon, so crews are prepared to adjust their plan of attack according to weather conditions.
County officials in Colorado have informed residents that light to moderate smoke will be visible in the air of surrounding areas.
Crews from Maryland, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania have also been sent to help put out the fire.
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