Durango – Firefighters managed today to stunt the Black Ridge fire burning roughly 400 acres of pinon-juniper forest south of Durango.
The fire burned actively after dark Wednesday, growing from 250 to 388 acres. Firefighters worked through the night to rough in a line along its western flank.
The blaze gained little ground today, but managers had not estimated a containment percentage by late afternoon.
“Things are looking pretty good out there,” Forest Service spokeswoman Pamella Wilson said.
Friday’s forecast called for hot, dry weather but light winds, she said.
A dozen homes in High Flume Canyon initially considered at risk were better protected by today,Wilson said. No evacuations had taken place.
The fire, likely ignited by lightning, was spotted at 12:45 p.m. Wednesday on the east side of Black Ridge on the Southern Ute Reservation.
Several natural gas wells are in the area, but they were not shut down. Well pads had been cleared of vegetation, and the wells were built to withstand high pressures and temperatures, Wilson said.
About 100 firefighters are working the blaze under a Forest Service incident command.
Two small fires appeared tosday south of Black Ridge on the southern edge of Colorado and in northern New Mexico, Wilson said, and air tankers were quickly diverted to handle them.
Staff writer Electa Draper can be reached at 970-385-0917 or at edraper@denverpost.com.
