The Hutchinson Fire Department has deployed a brush truck and three firefighters to western Colorado to assist with efforts to contain the rapidly growing Gold Mountain Fire near Ouray.
According to a press release from Division Chief of Operations Justin Holzrichter, Brush 71 and three members of the department left Sunday, July 12, for the wildfire, which has burned 34,848 acres and remains highly active.
The Hutchinson crew is expected to arrive at the incident around midday Monday. Once there, firefighters will begin what is anticipated to be a 14-day assignment, working alongside crews from across the country to help suppress the wildfire.
Fire department officials said the deployment comes during what has been an exceptionally busy wildfire season across the western United States. They noted the department is proud to answer the call for mutual aid and assist neighboring states during large-scale wildfire emergencies.
The department is asking the community to keep the Hutchinson firefighters, along with all personnel battling wildfires nationwide, in their thoughts as they work to protect lives, property and natural resources.