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TOWAOC \u2013 A fire fueled by dried brush, grass and cotton from cottonwoods broke out along a grove of trees about 7:45 p.m. Tuesday but was contained within 15 minutes by firefighters from three agencies.<\/p>\n
Cortez Fire Protection District Fire Chief Jay Balfour said the cause of the blaze remains under investigation.<\/p>\n
Tammy Coulon, the property owner, who placed a 911 call, said dried brush piles were strung out along the cottonwoods from previous landowners.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were just at the house, and my grandson said, \u2018Nana, there\u2019s smoke, fire.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Coulon said Montezuma County Sheriff\u2019s deputies asked whether anyone had been shooting guns earlier in the day.<\/p>\n
Family members were shooting prairie dogs earlier, Coulon said, but she doubted a hot shell casing could have started the blaze.<\/p>\n
Thirteen firefighters battled the fire, and they were aided by irrigated fields to the north and the southwest of the blaze that extended in a winding line following the cottonwoods for about 2 acres.<\/p>\n
Jeff Coulon, Tammy\u2019s husband, said no structures were ever threatened.<\/p>\n
Balfour said firefighters would remain at the fire for several hours to douse hot spots, secure a perimeter and eliminate smoking areas. Firefighters also were set to return to the scene at 9 a.m. Wednesday to check for hot spots and mop up.<\/p>\n
Two tankers, three brush trucks and a fire engine responded to the scene.<\/p>\n
Firefighters from the Cortez Fire Protection District, the Ute Mountain Ute Fire Department and the Lewis Arriola Fire Protection District battled the blaze. The Montezuma County Sheriff\u2019s Office also responded.<\/p>\n