A family that lives north of the Ute Mountain Casino in Towaoc was ordered to evacuate Saturday afternoon after a brush fire quickly spread near U.S. Highway 160 and County Road A.

The Cortez Fire Protection District was called to the scene about 4 p.m. The Ute Mountain Ute and Lewis-Arriola fire departments also responded to the blaze.

Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office deputies blocked the highway in both directions near the 100 block as smoke started to blow across the road. The highway reopened by 6:45 p.m., according to Montezuma County Sheriff Steve Nowlin.

About 4:15 p.m., Nowlin said the blaze was moving north toward Towaoc. At 5 p.m., an emergency text from the Nixle alert system warned Montezuma County residents to stay away from U.S. 160 south of Cortez. The alert later clarified that the evacuation order was for the area of blocks 0 through 1000.

At 6:45 p.m., Nowlin reported from an incident command center at U.S. 160 and County Road A that the fire had been contained to about 15 acres, and that firefighters were setting backfires to keep it contained. Responders continued to monitor the fire amid gusty winds.

No injuries or damaged structures were reported, though smoke was seen rising close to some farm buildings south of Towaoc.

Nowlin said it wasn’t yet clear what started the fire. The Bureau of Indian Affairs was investigating.

Nowlin said he plans to ask the Montezuma County Board of Commissioners to declare a fire ban at its next meeting on Monday. The county’s weather has been too dry and windy lately for safe burning, he said.

“It’s soon, unfortunately,” he said. “A lot of people will complain, but we just can’t wait.”