Crews pushing back against Colo. wildfires
Tillie Fong, Rocky Mountain News
Published July 11, 2007 at midnight
Fire crews were making progress on a number of Colorado wildfires Tuesday.
The largest of the blazes, the Bear Fire, 11 miles south of Mancos, was expected to be fully contained Tuesday night.
"We had some wind, blowing dust and ash, but nothing to cause fire spread," said Eric La Price, fire information officer for the Dolores Public Lands Office.
The 1,526-acre fire was started by lightning Saturday and destroyed one home and two outbuildings Sunday.
Power poles along County Road 114 were burned, but they have been replaced by La Plata County Electric, and power was restored to several homes that were affected.
Air support resources were released Tuesday from working the Bear Fire, leaving 15 fire crews, or about 100 people, attacking the blaze on the ground.
"We had two single-engine tankers available, but they were not needed," La Price said.
The First Fork Fire in the Pagosa Range, about 30 miles northeast of Pagosa Springs, also was fully contained by Tuesday afternoon.
The 32-acre fire, which was started by lightning Sunday, had a 20-person San Juan Hotshot team working on it, with the support of a Type III helicopter.
Fire crews were dispatched to fight two new fires that were started by lightning Monday.
The 200-acre Goodman Fire in the Canyon of the Ancients, outside Cortez, was 60 percent contained Tuesday. About 70 people, a single-engine air tanker and a Type I helicopter were able to keep the blaze in check.
The Five Pines Fire in the San Juan National Forest, just north of Dolores, burned 70 acres and was only 50 percent contained Tuesday.
Two 20-person crews, with five engines, two water tenders and a Type I helicopter, were fighting that fire.
A thunderstorm watch was in effect in the area Tuesday, with the possibility of dry lightning creating new fire starts.
Firefighters also scrambled Tuesday on five "initial attack" blazes in the Durango area that were started by lightning. Crews were able to limit the damage of each blaze to a single tree.
Progress report: Milford Flat Fire
This central Utah blaze continued to grow Tuesday, keeping Interstate 15, a major north-south route for the West, closed.
• How big: 311,000 acres or 469 square miles
• Started: Friday
• Cause: lightning
• Fighting the fire: 300 firefighters were on scene, 200 more expected soon
• Containment: 10 percent
• Forecast: Hot, dry weather is expected to continue throughout the week with some gusty winds.
• What they're saying: "What once was a beautiful mountain range is black. You look out and all you see is about 10 different fires and dust devils and blackened ground," said Garth Larsen, manager of the Blundell geothermal power plant, where employees were trapped when the fire began last week.Source: Associated Press
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