Copyright 2006 Denver Publishing Company
By TILLIE FONG
Rocky Mountain News (Denver)
Firefighters stayed busy Thursday trying to contain several wildland fires in the state.
The biggest one, the Black Ridge Fire, about 15 miles south of Durango, had grown to 478 acres but was considered 50 percent contained at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.
“Somewhat erratic winds and dry fuel caused short-range spotting throughout the day in the pinon-juniper,” said Pamella Wilson, spokeswoman for the U.S. Forest Service.
“However, firefighters were able to catch the spot fires before they made large runs.”
The Black Ridge fire was believed to have been started by lightning Tuesday afternoon.
At one point, 12 of 35 homes in the High Flume Canyon area about two miles east of the blaze were put on pre-evacuation alert.
All were considered controlled Thursday evening.
Meanwhile, Front Range firefighters were dealing with two smaller blazes.
A landowner who was burning some materials on at 423 Blue Mountain Road, also known as Larimer County Road 37E, may have apparently caused a wildland fire Thursday.
Lyons Fire Department was called to the site at 11:30 a.m and was told by the landowner that the fire was out. However, it apparently rekindled around 3:30 p.m., and the blaze grew to more than 30 acres, moving north.
A third blaze, about a quarter- acre, dubbed the Evans Ranch Fire, was apparently started by lightning in the Mount Evans Wilderness Area about 20 miles west of Denver.