A fast-moving brush fire southwest of Cortez was being fought Thursday by multiple local and federal firefighting agencies.
The fire grew to 22 acres, and was fully contained by about 3 p.m., said Cortez Fire Protection District Chief Jay Balfour.
It started on County Road G.2 and was sparked by a lawnmower being used by a resident to mow weeds.
“We were trying to control the fire danger by mowing, and this happened,” said Carol Gray. “We feel terrible about it.”
She said her son was operating a riding lawnmower when suddenly the mower was surrounded by flames. He jumped off, and emergency responders were called.
“It took off very, very fast,” Gray said. “It is a lesson for everyone how dry it is.”
Her son dumped five-gallon buckets of water on the flames, but the fire had grown too large.
The fire was reported about 11 a.m., and by 12:30 p.m. had grown to 10 acres, said BLM Fire Operations Manager Pat Seekins.
Hand crews dug fireline, and multiple tankers and engines were on scene spraying water.
Two helicopters and a single engine air tanker were called in to drop fire retardant and water on the fire. Ground crews were deployed to establish a firebreak around the perimeter.
The fire was burning northeast in sage brush, dry grass and some piñon-juniper. It approached Bureau of Land Management land, but stayed on private land.
Several homes are in the area, but no structures were damaged, officials said. No injuries were reported.
Fire departments from Cortez, Mancos, Dolores, Lewis-Arriola, Pleasant View, National Park Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Ute Mountain Helitack, Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service responded to the fire. A Southwest Health System ambulance and Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office deputies also were at the scene.
