A wildfire on U.S. Forest Service land above West Vail is 60 percent contained, officials said tonight.
Ground crews planned to come off the hill at nightfall and about 34 firefighters would return at 7 a.m. on Saturday.
The West Vail fire, which broke out this afternoon, covers only one acre but it is located in a steep area of lodgepole pine trees with extensive beetle kill, providing the fire with plenty of fuel.
A heavy air tanker from Grand Junction and a helicopter from Rifle have made multiple retardant and water drops. At one point during the evening, 63 firefighters from multiple agencies were on scene.
Vail Mountain was evacuated as a precaution, but is expected to resume normal operations Saturday.
Mike McPhee: 303-954-1409 or mmcphee@denverpost.com
