The Little Devil fire grew to an estimated 70 acres on Thursday afternoon. The fire was started Tuesday by a lightning strike, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
Forest Road #627, Devil Mountain Road, and Forest Road #626, which accesses the Devil Creek State Wildlife Area, are closed. The Little Devil Fire is burning in a steep and heavily forested area of the San Juan National Forest three miles north of the intersection of U.S. Highway 160 and Colorado State Highway 151 between Pagosa Springs and Bayfield.
Smoke is visible from U.S. Highway 160 and nearby areas. No structures are threatened. The weather forecast calls for hot, dry conditions to continue, at least until the weekend.
Air tankers and a Type 3 helicopter worked on the fire on Thursday. Two 20-person crews, a local Pagosa District crew and eight smoke jumpers. Another 20-person crew is en route.
Firefighters worked to expand and secure firelines to minimize the growth of the Little Devil Fire. Aerial support, including helicopters dropping water and fixed- wing aircraft using fire retardant, has played a major role in assisting firefighters on the ground in slowing the progress of the fire, especially in the areas of active fire and steep, rough terrain.
The fire is burning at a Âlow to moderate level of intensity.
"The fire's location in very rugged terrain is making suppression efforts difficult," a USFS spokeswoman said.
