Favorable weather conditions today were allowing crews to gain the upper hand on two western Colorado fires.
The Sunrise Mine fire, about four miles north of Paradox, is about 30 percent contained. The fire, which was ignited around 5 p.m. Friday, has burned more than 5,200 acres of public land, according to the federal Bureau of Land Management.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
Fire crews have created buffers around houses and buildings in the area, and no structures have burned, the BLM said in a release.
There are seven aircraft, six engines, three 20-person crews and about 20 overhead personnel on the scene.
Firefighters will continue today to construct and strengthen containment lines, the BLM said. Their efforts will be aided by helicopter water drops.
The Little Sand Fire in Archuleta County just east of the Piedra area started on Thursday from a spot fire and was estimated on Sunday night to have covered 2,682 acres, according to a news release by the U.S. Forest Service.
Today, fire personnel will continue work on the new dozer line, north of Sally’s Overlook, along Trail Ridge. The Alpine Hotshots will be working the south end of the fire heading west off Sally’s Overlook down to where the fire is approaching the Piedra River. The crew may conduct some small burnouts in an effort to keep the fire from crossing the river.
With structure protection complete for the Poma Ranch, the Abajo Wildland Fire Module will resume structure protection assessment on other private properties in the area.
