STERLING, CO — Several fire crews in Northeast Colorado are dealing with a large hay stack fire that began Monday afternoon.

According to the Logan County Office of Emergency Management, the fire started west of Sterling near County Road 29. Heavy winds and dry conditions helped the flames to spread and crews were forced to temporarily evacuate the immediate area Monday evening, according to Emergency Management officials.

Road graders and discs were deployed to establish fire lines around houses near Highway 14 and Sunny Knowles Lane late Monday. Multiple crews were sent to staging areas to keep an eye out for spot fires and possible grass fires as the winds carried embers to the south, according to officials.

Highway 14 and County Road 29 were closed Monday afternoon as a result of the blaze, but Highway 14 reopened Monday night, according to the Sterling Fire Department.

Logan County Emergency Management says all agencies in Logan County along with the New Raymer Fire Department and the state's Division of Fire Prevention and Control also responded to the blaze.

In the latest update provided Tuesday morning just before 5:00 a.m., the Sterling Fire Department said they would evaluate conditions and plan for the next operational period after daybreak. They say winds have calmed since Monday afternoon which has kept fire activity to a minimum.

Northeast Colorado was under a Red Flag Warning Monday afternoon for critical fire conditions caused by low humidity and high winds.