Wildland firefighters have contained 20 percent of the Lightner Creek Canyon fire that has now spread to 360 acres.
“The firefighters did a great job in keeping it in check over night,” said Chris Barth, fire spokesman.
He said more hand crews arrived overnight and are scheduled to join the battle on Friday. There will be about 200 firefighters working the fire lines on Friday, Barth said. They are using 15 fire engines.
No one has been injured, and only one home has been burned, he said.
On Thursday, firefighting efforts were largely in the air as four helicopters dumped water and retardant on steep slopes. The battle will shift as crews push to extend fire lines, Barth said.
The fire is in two distinct locations after burning debris blew west of the main fire and ignited a second blaze, Barth said. Containment was mostly achieved on the Eastern fire. The spot fire is now the largest of the two wildfires.
The wildfire when a house caught fire and flames spread to the forest. The blaze is burning on dangerously steep terrain.
Gov. John Hickenlooper labeled the fire a disaster emergency to help efforts to fight the fire. In doing so, he authorized the Colorado National Guard to join containment efforts.
The LaPlata County Fairgrounds is open as an evacuation center for people and animals.