Infrared mapping of the Beaver Creek fire near Walden allowed officials Thursday to better estimate the size of the fire, finding it is smaller than previously reported.
The fire is now listed at 5,368 acres. Aaron Voos, a spokesman for Routt National Forest said officials had not been able to do a flight for infrared mapping before because of smoke.
On Wednesday winds continued to push the Beaver Creek Fire to the east in Jackson County.
The fire is burning about 2 miles south of the Colorado-Wyoming state line, and is “firmly established on BLM-managed Independence Mountain,” according to an update from Rocky Mountain Incident Management Blue Team that took over fire management on Thursday.
The fire has burned land that belongs to the Routt National Forest, the Kremmling Bureau of Land Management and some privately owned.
An estimated 40 residents or cabins are threatened by the fire.
The cause of the fire remains unknown. Authorities on Monday found a vehicle of interest in the blaze and have not explained how it is connected.
Air resources assigned to the fire Thursday include four helicopters and an air attack plane.
“All ground resources remain focused on structure protection and are scouting for opportunities to build fire line and secure contingency lines,” according to the news release.