Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — The fire danger in Northwest Colorado remains low, particularly for this time of year, but a couple of small lightning-sparked blazes are getting attention from fire crews.

The Northwest Colorado Fire Management Unit said that each of the fires in Rio Blanco and Moffat counties is less than 2 acres and that none is threatening structures.

According to a news release from the fire management unit:

“The Monument Fire started Saturday and the Rangely Rural Fire Protection District responded with two engines while the Northwest Colorado Fire Management Unit sent a squad of firefighters and an engine from Dinosaur National Monument. Due to steep, tough terrain, smokejumpers were ordered and dropped into the roughest part of the fire. The fire was contained Sunday and was held to 1 3/4 acres.

“The Black Mountain Fire was reported around 10 a.m. Monday in the Black Mountain Wilderness Study Area. A Bureau of Land Management engine provided initial response and six smokejumpers re-routed from the Monument Fire to aid in fighting the Black Mountain Fire. No containment time is estimated, and the fire is 1 1/2 acres.

“The Kendall Fire is eight miles southwest of Meeker and is 1 1/2 acres. Two BLM engines and one fire manager are assigned. This fire is being managed to promote a vegetative mosaic that will leave cover for wildlife and diversify the age of the plants for range health. The Kendall Fire was reported July 18.

“The Upper Disaster Fire is in Moffat County southwest of Jack Springs on the Dinosaur National Monument. The fire was reported Saturday evening and two smokejumpers were assigned. Containment was accomplished Sunday around 1:30 p.m. and was kept to one-tenth an acre.”

Lynn Barclay, a fire mitigation specialist with the Bureau of Land Management, said that the fire danger remains low in Routt County but that it could change quickly as abundant grasses and vegetation fed by the wet spring and summer begin to dry out and provide more fuel for fires.