Sharpe Fire Burns to Campo, Colo., Fought by Entire Community
May 19, 2026
Drought conditions cover nearly the entire West to varying degrees of intensity, with southeastern Colorado among the worst conditions. Recent rain chances didn't produce moisture, but did bring dry lightning and fire that burned within hundreds of yards of Campo, Colo.
The Sharpe Fire originated in Oklahoma and burned swiftly 8 miles north, nearly claiming the small town of Campo, Colo., on May 16. One of several fires in the area, the Sharpe Fire didn't claim occupied structures, cattle, or lives, but was still burning but mostly contained the following days with fence posts, railroad ties, and downed trees still burning in the black. Baca County Public Information Officer Megan England said at one point, more than 200 personnel were on the scene.
Rafe Schroder, a local rancher, said agencies made a 15-hour stand south of town with farmers hauling water to them throughout the night. At home, his family moved cattle out of harm's way. He said cattle would certainly have been lost without intervention and miles of fences have been lost. The wind, he said, continues to blow and the blowing sand has closed roads.
Brad Cook of Walsh, Colo., said volunteers from across Baca County fought the fires and supported personnel.
"In addition to the firefighters, those county workers blading and hauling water are not without mention," Cook wrote. "Your tireless efforts are also commended. To the farmers with discs and equipment, I tip my hat. I know the firefighters love to see you all coming to help, too. The ranchers that were providing gathering assistance, pickups, trailers and moving cattle. You guys rock. Lastly, the neighboring agencies that joined the fight also. You have left your jobs and families to assist people that you probably don't even know. That is beyond commendable. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else other than right here with all these amazing community members and volunteers."
Cook said convoys of linemen from Southeast Colorado Power Association were also headed straight toward the affected areas to assist.
EVACUATION ORDERS
Russ Watson, of Eads, Colo., who is the District Chief of the Kiowa County Fire Protection District, said the threat of flames moved quickly, prompting evacuation orders for Campo.
"The fire conditions were intense and constantly changing," he said. "Staging locations had to be moved multiple times as the fire threatened different areas. Crews worked in heavy smoke, shifting winds, and dangerous fire behavior while trying to stay ahead of a fire that was moving across open country with speed and force."
Watson said the photos show only a small part of what was happening on the ground and in the air. Air support from the National Forest Service made retardant drops while ground crews worked to build and hold fire lines.
"Maintainers, tractors with blades and discs, brush trucks, water tenders, nurse trailers, and countless pieces of equipment were all part of the effort," he said. "While some crews were creating fire lines and extinguishing active fire, others were assisting with backburn operations after the fire was turned over to the state. The large fireball flares seen in some of the photos were part of those backburn assignments, used to remove fuel and help stop the forward progress of the fire. This was not just a fire department response. This was a full community and regional effort."
Watson said when one of the department's trucks developed a cracked radiator reservoir, the owner of a parts store in Springfield opened the store and coordinated the part delivery so the truck could return to the fight.
"The town of Campo may be small, but the people there are fierce, resilient, and strong," he said. "They left their homes with uncertainty in their hearts, but also with trust and hope that first responders and everyone involved would do everything possible to protect their little piece of comfort they call home."
The area has been declared a natural disaster and as need is determined in the coming weeks, read for updates on how local ag producers can be supported.
