The evacuation order that displaced families from 18 homes along County Road 206 was lifted as of 3 p.m. Thursday, according to La Plata County spokeswoman Megan Graham.
Also, the Dakota West and Westwood Apartments near the intersection of County Road 206 and U.S. Highway 160 are no longer under a pre-evacuation notice because of the Lightner Creek Fire west of Durango.
"Based on fire proximity and behavior, and progress that fire teams were able to make, allowed for the decision to be made that it was safe for families to return," Graham said.
Meanwhile, firefighters were carrying out a ground assault along the perimeter of the wildfire west of Durango.
The goal is to increase lines around the 362-acre blaze, which remained at 20 percent containment Friday afternoon, said Chris Barth, spokesman for the Type II incident command team, which took control of the fire at 6 a.m. Friday.
Type II teams can summon greater resources and have more management experience to handle complex fires burning in the urban-wildland interfaces than Type III teams, he said.
"Yesterday there was a lot of aviation flying the fire," he said. "Today it's going to be an emphasis on getting crews up into that steep, difficult country to work to build containment lines. Having aviation is great, but you need to have firefighters on the ground as well to help build those containment lines."
About 170 homes had been evacuated, but fire officials and the La Plata County Sheriff's Office were discussing when all residents might be able to return.
"We don't have an answer on that, but we're knocking on that door," said Butch Knowlton, director of La Plata County Emergency Management.
A community meeting is planned for 5 p.m. Friday at Escalante Middle School, 141 Baker Lane, where the American Red Cross has set up a shelter for displaced residents.
Thick smoke settled into Durango city limits Thursday night, but little smoke was visible by daylight.
Businesses and tourism officials reported minimal repercussions as a result of the three-day fire, but on Friday afternoon, Durango city and fire officials called off this year's Fourth of July fireworks show as a result of severe fire conditions and having to manage the Lightner Creek Fire.
Staff writer Shane Benjamin contributed to this report.
