West Creek Fire Contained

A wildfire that started Thursday in the old Hayman burn area is contained and controlled.

The West Creek Fire burned in Teller county, seven miles west of Highway 67 and County Road 78.

It was an eye-opener for Jody Stutman, who lives a mile away from Thursday’s burn area.

“I think you think once this has already happened, it’s not going to happen again,” said Jody Stutman, referring to living in an area that was burned a decade ago during the Hayman Fire. “But obviously that’s not true,” said Stutman.

“This is a large area as everybody knows that the Hayman Fire covered 10 years ago,” said Steven Steed, director of the Teller County Office of Emergency Management.

More than 200,000 acres were charred in that fire. Luckily, the West Creek Fire was snuffed out before burning seven acres.

After a decade of growth in the area, fine grasses and shrubs extending up to four-feet high are fuel for even the smallest spark.

Stutman wasn’t home when the blaze broke out.

“When you’re not there it’s really scary,” said Stutman. “Because you have no control over it. There was definitely a panic.”

She was relieved at the quick response from firefighters who put out the flames before it could reach her house.

Crews will work until dark Friday night, mopping up hot spots. They will be back out Saturday morning patrolling the area.