Sudden winds caused a controlled burn to get out of control Saturday north of Torrington, resulting in a grass fire that scorched more than 600 acres, consumed a barn, damaged an outbuilding and threatened nearby homes near County Road 80.
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TORRINGTON – Sudden winds caused a controlled burn to get out of control Saturday north of Torrington, resulting in a grass fire that scorched more than 600 acres, consumed a barn, damaged an outbuilding and threatened nearby homes near County Road 80.
The Torrington Volunteer Fire Department was the first agency on the scene after receiving the call at 11:16 a.m. The Lingle Volunteer Fire Department, Yoder Volunteer Fire Department, Veteran Volunteer Fire Department, Goshen Hole Volunteer Fire Department and Prairie Center Volunteer Fire Department all responded to battle the blaze. The Goshen County Sheriff’s Office, Goshen County Emergency Management, Goshen County Fire Warden, and the Wyoming Highway Patrol all assisted in the effort.
TVFD Chief Lance Petsch said the fire got close to some homes, but the efforts of the firefighters helped prevent any of them from catching fire.
“We got really close to homes,” he said. “It was too close for comfort, obviously. It sounds like, again, the whole process worked well in terms of getting between there and keeping it away from any homes. I think it got close, about 20 or 30 feet away. It got right up close to some yards, but I don’t think it got into any house that way.”
Petsch said sudden winds helped the fire grow.
“The wind is the biggest factor,” he said. “It was a nice calm day and then boom, the wind was there. Unfortunately, that happens here. You should check the weather to know what is projected and what is going to happen. You want to start early in the morning before the wind, and then try to have some water in hand, just in case.”
Petsch said he recommends that citizens check the weather and other factors before starting a planned burn.
“The biggest thing is to check the weather,” he said. “You have to find a day that’s cooler with no wind. Hopefully the humidity will be higher. I think when the fire started and the relative humidity was 14%. That means there’s not much moisture in the air and stuff is going to burn better.
