A 42,000-acre fire in southeast Colorado remained out of control Friday, but despite swirling winds that hampered firefighters, the blaze was 10 percent contained by nightfall.
Eight properties and several prehistoric sites remained threatened by the Bridger fire, burning about 25 miles south of La Junta. It is believed to have started Wednesday on the Army’s Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site after a lightning strike.
Dee McNutt, spokeswoman for Fort Carson, said while winds were lighter Friday than the two previous days, their swirling nature has made firefighting difficult.
About 289 personnel have been fighting the blaze for two days, and additional resources have been ordered. The crews have been performing structural protection for several facilities on the Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site and the historic Rourke Ranch, which is on the northeast side of the military property.
The Army said residents in the area will continue to see smoke, heavy at times, during the next several days.
Steve Segin, spokesman for the Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center, said 11 fire engines — some designed to fight structural fires, others to fight wildfires — are being called in to bolster personnel already on the scene.
McNutt said Army, Army Reserve, National Guard and State Forestry officials are flying in a wide assortment of aircraft to fight the fire from the air. Chinook and Black Hawk helicopters are being used to drop water on the flames.
Hot Shots were reportedly on Ov Mesa near the JE Canyon and Red Rock ranches. Another crew was in the Purgatoire River Valley on the Beatty Canyon Ranch owned by Steve and Joy Wooten.
Joe Doherty, who with his parents John and Carolyn Doherty own the Red Rock Ranch, said although the fire came within 3 to 5 miles of the ranch home Thursday, fire commanders believed their home was not in immediate danger.
Curt Tichenor, ranch manager for the JE Canyon Ranch, said, “There is still a little fire on the (Ov) Mesa and still some smoke,” but the main area of the fire seemed to be back on the Army’s Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
