Brush Fire Stalls with Rattlesnakes Blocking Firefighters

Colorado Highway Closed as Rattlesnakes Hinder Firefighting Efforts

Wed 21 August 2024 1237 pm GMT-4

Officials in north-central Colorado closed US Route 6 near Clear Creek Canyon on Wednesday, August 21st.

The closure is due to a nearby brush fire that has burned over 200 acres.

Firefighters battling the Quarry Fire in Jefferson County southwest of the Denver metro area are facing a new challenge:

• Rocky, steep terrain
• Dry conditions
• Rattlesnakes

Colorado firefighters are not only battling difficult wildfire behavior on challenging terrain, but they are also dealing with numerous rattlesnakes in the area.

The high-elevation Colorado rattlesnakes take refuge in dens for the winter and emerge in the spring for a short season of activity.