Colorado highway closed after rattlesnakes slow efforts to fight fire

Colorado officials are fighting a wildfire burning in Clear Creek Canyon near Golden, which is along the foothills west of Denver. 

The fire started Tuesday evening and was sparked by lightning, The Denver Post reported fire officials had said. 

As of Wednesday, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said the fire, which is being called the Goltra Fire, was burning across more than 200 acres. 

U.S. 6 was closed, which runs west into the mountains from Golden slightly north of the main thoroughfare I-70. 

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office also said several factors were adding difficulty to the crews, including steep vertical terrain with loose rocks and rattlesnakes. 

"[Firefighters] that were on the scene last night said that every step is rocky, every step is unsteady," Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Jackie Kelley reportedly told The Denver Post. "And once again we’re dealing with a lot of rattlesnake activity in that area."

U.S. 6 was closed, which runs west into the mountains from Golden slightly north of the main thoroughfare I-70. 

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Helicopters from area agencies were making water drops, and 65 firefighters were said to be on the ground Wednesday.