Car malfunction sparked blaze near Glade Park; no structures damaged thanks to fast, coordinated response

GLADE PARK, Colo. (KJCT) — A fast-moving fire that ignited near Glade Park on Saturday afternoon was fully suppressed by 2:00 p.m. the following day, thanks to a swift and coordinated response led by Mesa County’s Wildland Fire Team.

Cause: Electrical Malfunction in Vehicle

The fire, named the Enoch Fire, began on August 3 after a vehicle experienced an electrical failure. The Glade Park Fire Department was the first to respond, quickly followed by the Mesa County Wildland Team.

“When we arrived, it was a little chaotic, but not too bad,” said Louis Hotchkiss, Engine Captain with the Wildland Team.

A Team Effort Across Agencies

What could have turned into a dangerous situation was swiftly handled through teamwork. Agencies from Grand Junction, Lower Valley, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the U.S. Forest Service joined the effort.

“Glade Park is right on our back door, so anytime we need to respond to Glade Park, that’s the immediate response for us,” said Luke Williams, another Engine Captain with the Wildland Team.

Williams credited smooth coordination among all the responding crews for the successful containment.

“When you show up on a fire, there’s so many different moving parts,” he said. “Everybody was able to coordinate here on this one and get a hose around the whole entire thing.”

Aerial Support and Structural Protection

With structures nearby, the Wildland Team also worked with air resources to perform retardant drops to prevent the fire from spreading. Fortunately, no buildings were damaged.

“Also, while coordinating with the air resources on getting retardant drops, there were structures nearby,” said Williams. “No structures were harmed at all.”

Behind-the-Scenes Heroes

Though the Wildland Team mostly handles fires on private lands, they’re always ready to assist wherever needed across the county.

“Obviously, fire is unpredictable,” Williams added. “It takes all hands on deck, sometimes working with all the different agencies and crews throughout the Grand Valley and Western Colorado.”

Fuel Mitigation and Community Outreach

In addition to fire suppression, the team works closely with landowners on fire prevention strategies. Creating “defensible space” around homes—areas cleared of flammable materials—can make a critical difference during wildfire season.

“Coming into these years, we’ve been continuing to get bigger and bigger fires,” said Hotchkiss. “Really focusing on getting that fuel mitigation around people’s homes and being able to get that awareness out.”