A fast-moving brush fire near the Colorado River corridor shut down a key stretch of Interstate 70 on Friday, grinding east-west travel to a halt and sending plumes of smoke across Garfield County.
Just after sunset on June 20, a large brush fire broke out along the I-70 corridor between the towns of Parachute and Rifle, prompting an immediate shutdown of both directions of the interstate. Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) officials say the decision to close the highway between Exit 75 and Exit 90 was based on safety concerns as the fire moved quickly through dry terrain.
By early Saturday morning, the air was thick with smoke, traffic had backed up for miles, and emergency crews were working through the night to hold the flames away from the highway — and nearby homes.
I-70: A Lifeline Cut Off
When I-70 shuts down in western Colorado, there aren’t a lot of easy alternatives.
That became painfully clear Friday evening when traffic was abruptly diverted. Westbound travelers were turned around near Rifle, while eastbound drivers found themselves at a dead stop just outside Parachute.
“It’s the only real east-west artery through this region,” said Mike Bragg, a trucker heading from Salt Lake City to Denver. “You take this road out, and people are stranded.”
Drivers pulled off into gas stations and truck stops along the frontage roads. Some sat on hoods, scrolling phones for updates. Others just waited, headlights dimmed, radios tuned to static-laced news stations.
One woman with Utah plates was seen pacing alongside her SUV, trying to calm a crying toddler in the back seat. “We were supposed to be in Glenwood hours ago,” she muttered, half to herself.
Dry Conditions, High Winds, Bad Timing
Fire crews from Rifle, Parachute, and the surrounding volunteer districts responded swiftly — but the landscape was working against them.
Months of below-average rainfall had left the ground dry and brittle. Winds gusted up to 25 mph Friday evening, pushing flames across roadside brush and into small clusters of junipers.
No official cause of the fire has been released yet, but the situation escalated quickly.
“There’s no lightning in the area, and we haven’t had any red flag warnings this week,” said Jason Morales, a spokesperson for Garfield County Emergency Management. “We’re investigating, but right now, the priority is containment.”
Where the Closure Hits Hardest
The section of highway affected — from Exit 75 (Parachute) to Exit 90 (Rifle) — is critical not only for passenger vehicles but also for commercial trucking and regional deliveries.
Locals and logistics businesses alike felt the immediate effects:
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Delivery delays: With major trucking routes disrupted, shipments to Glenwood Springs, Aspen, and even Grand Junction faced delays.
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Commuter chaos: Residents who work in either town found themselves scrambling for detours through rural backroads.
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Emergency detours: Fire engines and medical responders had to be rerouted through county roads ill-equipped for that volume.
And with the Fourth of July travel surge just around the corner, some are already worried.
“This is a nightmare if it drags on into next week,” said Teresa Lowman, who runs a seasonal rafting outfit near Glenwood. “Our guests come in on that highway. You can’t float a river with no clients.”
No Injuries Reported, but the Air is Thick
So far, no injuries have been reported, and no homes have been lost. But the impact is visible.
As of late Friday, smoke could be seen from over 15 miles away. Highway cameras showed a reddish haze stretching across the flatlands. Firefighters battled flare-ups along both sides of the interstate, while air tankers were reportedly put on standby out of Grand Junction Regional Airport.
The Colorado Department of Public Health issued an air quality advisory for Garfield and Mesa counties. Sensitive groups were warned to stay indoors if possible.
You could taste the ash on your tongue in Rifle. In Parachute, visibility dropped to under a mile as smoke hugged the valley floor.
Timeline of Events
Here’s how the situation unfolded so far:
| Time (MT) | Event |
|---|---|
| 6:15 PM | First reports of smoke near Mile Marker 80 |
| 6:30 PM | Fire crews dispatched from Parachute and Rifle |
| 7:10 PM | CDOT begins partial closure westbound |
| 7:45 PM | Full closure of both lanes from Exit 75 to Exit 90 |
| 8:20 PM | Fire covers approx. 150 acres, winds increase |
| 9:15 PM | Emergency shelters prepped in Rifle High School gym |
| 12:00 AM | Smoke reaches I-70 corridor east of Rifle |
This table may evolve as more updates become available.
Uncertainty, But Hope for Reopening Soon
As of early Saturday morning, CDOT was not able to provide an estimate on when the highway would reopen. Fire containment had improved slightly overnight, but flare-ups remained an issue.
Officials said weather would play a major role in their next steps. If the wind dies down and the forecast holds steady, parts of the road might reopen by late Saturday.
Still, they emphasized caution.
“If the fire jumps the barrier or conditions worsen, we won’t hesitate to keep the road closed,” said Morales. “Better late than unsafe.”
Residents nearby remained on alert. Some packed go-bags, while others slept in shifts just in case.
But even in the haze, there were small signs of comfort: local churches offering free meals, strangers handing out bottled water, and neighbors sharing space with stranded travelers.
“We’ve been through fires before,” said longtime Rifle resident Dan Keller. “It’s not new. But it never gets easy. You just watch the wind, pray for the crews, and stay ready.”
