Highway 6 Closed as Goltra Fire Burns in Clear Creek Canyon

Highway 6 is closed Wednesday morning as firefighting crews in Colorado battle the Goltra Fire, which has spread to approximately 200 acres in the rugged terrain of Clear Creek Canyon. The closure affects the section of road north of Interstate 70 and west of Golden, with plans to reopen it by Thursday afternoon. The fire ignited on Tuesday following a lightning strike near Lookout Mountain. According to Jacki Kelley, spokeswoman for the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, the fire began at the top of the canyon and moved down towards the road, where firefighters successfully contained it. The county has requested aerial support to assist in combating the blaze, which has drawn the efforts of several dozen firefighters. Fortunately, there are currently no homes or structures in the vicinity of the fire, and no evacuation orders have been issued. Kelley emphasized that a thorough risk assessment is conducted for every wildfire, taking into account valuable resources such as watersheds, infrastructure, and roadways. In this instance, the assessment revealed that there are no immediate risks to homes or critical infrastructure, as the fire is primarily affecting uninhabited land. The Goltra Fire is named after the current or former owner of the private property where the fire is burning. Firefighters continue to monitor the situation closely as they work to control the flames and ensure public safety.