Westbound Interstate 76 is closed in northeastern Colorado on Sunday after a large brush fire sparked on the side of the highway, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.
As of 2:40 p.m. Sunday, CDOT officials said westbound I-76 was closed at Colorado 59, about 15 miles west of Julesburg and 3 miles south of Sedgwick.
Information about the size of the fire was not available Sunday afternoon, but a video shared by the National Weather Service’s Boulder office showed flames burning up to the side of the interstate and smoke crossing the roadway.
“Ok, everyone! Time to be extremely careful with anything that may produce a spark and start our next wildfire,” NWS officials said on social media. “This new fire is burning right up to I-76 east of Crook. Breezy today, but windier tomorrow!”
The Eastern Plains are under a Red Flag warning until 7 p.m. Sunday and another warning will activate Monday at 11 a.m., according to NWS forecasters.
Low humidity and high winds blowing across the plains create critical conditions for “rapid fire spread,” forecasters said in the warning. Wind gusts up to 35 mph will be possible on the plains through Sunday evening and stronger winds are forecast Monday afternoon.
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