The Daily Sun-Up Colorado farmers fighting fires
Jan 26, 2026
Olivia Prentzel, a Colorado Sun reporter who covers communities and wildfires, tells vivid on-the-ground stories from Yuma County. She recounts how farmers used tractors and heavy equipment to cut fire lines and haul water. She shares close calls, local rescue logistics, and the moral courage that drove neighbors to run toward danger.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Wind And Dried Growth Fueled Rapid Spread
- Gusts over 70 mph and dry vegetation let three fires spread across more than 14,000 acres in about 20 hours.
- Unusually heavy summer growth then drought created abundant fine fuels that the wind easily carried.
Downed Lines May Have Started Multiple Fires
- Fallen power lines likely sparked multiple fires during the high-wind event, officials said.
- Investigations continued, but downed lines plus extreme winds created simultaneous ignition points.
Farmer Plows Lines While Fire Chases Him
- Clarence Young climbed into his John Deere and plowed fire lines with a 30-foot till to slow the blaze.
- He later drove at top speed through an electric fence into a green rye field when fire caught up to him.