Brush Fire In Byers Canyon In Grand County Grows To 568 Acres

BYERS, Colo. (CBS4) - A brush fire in Grand County temporarily closed U.S. 40 and railroad traffic in Byers Canyon.

The Byers Range Fire broke out Monday at approximately noon at the Byers Canyon Shooting Range and is estimated at 568 acres. The shooting range is about 4 miles west of Hot Sulphur Springs.

The fire started during public target practice. As of 6 p.m. it was 30 percent contained, and by 10 o'clock it was 70 percent contained. One residence was evacuated.

An air tanker from Grand Junction had been dropping retardant on the fire throughout the day.

U.S. 40 was closed from mile marker 198.5 to 201.5 for much of the day.

Large pine trees were seen catching flame due to the windy conditions, and much of the the canyon was still on fire as of 10 p.m. Fiery trees could be seen tumbling down the hill, sometimes onto the railroad, causing rail traffic to halt.

The Grand County Sheriff's Office, Hot Sulphur Springs/Parshall Fire Protection District, Kremmling Fire, Grand Fire, Grand Lake Fire and the U.S. Forest Service are on scene battling the fire.

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