Lightning sparked a wildland fire that is burning about two miles northeast of New Castle in Garfield County.
The Rockin’ Pine Fire started Saturday and had scorched about 15 acres by this morning, according federal land management officials.
Two single engine air tankers and one heavy air tanker dropped nine loads of water on the fire on Saturday.
About 60 firefighters and one helicopter are working the fire today, according to the Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Unit.
The fire, named after a restaurant located in the area in the 1960s, is burning in pinyon-juniper and oak brush in steep terrain on public land. It’s about two miles from the nearest home and one mile west of the location where the New Castle Fire burned earlier this summer.
Smoke is visible along Interstate 70 in the area and officials ask motorists passing through not to stop on the highway for safety reasons.
Firefighters expect the blaze to be 100 percent contained by 8 p.m. today.
Staff writer Kieran Nicholson can be reached at 303-954-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com.
