RIFLE, Colo. — Interstate 70 between Rifle and Parachute reopened to drivers around 8 p.m. after brush fires shut down a portion of the interstate Monday because the blowing smoke from the fires is a hazard to drivers.
The Colorado River Fire Rescue worked on the fires said the cause of the fire was a towed camper that the driver didn't realize had a blown tire and drove on the rim for a while, causing sparks that started fires along the road.
Fire crews continue to work on the fire in the area. One westbound lane on I-70 is open and all eastbound lanes are open. They asked drivers to use caution and be aware of fire personnel on the road.
Monday afternoon, Garfield County Sheriff Walter Stowe said the highway was closed because of visibility issues from the smoke of several small brush fires along the interstate. Stowe said a frontage road was used as a detour on U.S. 6 that bypassed the area.
Stowe said drivers used the frontage road to get around the fires.
Crews from Colorado River Fire Rescue, the Grand Valley Fire Protection District and the Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Unit worked to control multiple fires near mile marker 87 westbound.
The CDOT Hanging Lake station that monitors that portion of the highway asked drivers to use US 6, adjacent to the interstate, as the detour.
CDOT closed six miles of the highway between the Rifle and Parachute exits on I-70. CDOT spokesperson Bob Wilson said there were no reports of injuries or structures and homes in danger from the fire.