Officials held a press conference in Ordway, Wednesday morning to provide the public with current information concerning the fires that devastated Crowley County the previous day.

The deaths of two Olney Springs volunteer firefighters were confirmed by Katherine Sanguinetti, Department of Corrections Public Information Officer. According to Sanguinetti, Terry DeVore, age 30 and John Schwartz, Jr., age 38, were killed when the vehicle they were in drove off a collapsed bridge on Highway 96 between Lanes 15 and 16.

DeVore and Schwartz were both employed for the Arkansas Valley Department of Corrections in Crowley but were responding with the Olney Springs Volunteer Fire Department sometime around 4 p.m. when the accident occurred. DeVore had been a member of the fire department for 10 years and was recently elected chief.  

According to County Coroner, Karen Tomky, the fire was intensely hot fueled by strong winds and blowing sand. The siding on the bridge had burned and crews were responding to the area. Boone Fire Department had crossed the bridge minutes before, but at some unknown point collapse had occurred and DeVore and Schwartz were unaware of the danger.

Highway 96 east of Olney Springs remains closed.

Chris Sorenson, Public Information Officer, stated 8900 acres in Crowley County burned. Eight homes within Ordway city limits were lost as were an additional 16 outside town.

As of Wednesday morning, power had been at least partially restored to Ordway and the water system is functioning.

County Commissioner Matt Heimerich informed the public that damage assessment is underway and no county buildings were damaged.

The fire has been 90 percent contained with complete
extinguishment expected sometime Thursday.

Official cause of fire has not been determined and Colorado Bureau of Investigations is involved in the investigation.