Firefighters and air resources responded to a small wildfire on U.S. Forest Service land Friday afternoon just outside the Forest Lakes subdivision north of Bayfield.

A helicopter was at the scene making bucket drops from a nearby pond.

The fire was reported about 3:30 p.m. and was about 1½ acres in size as of 4:30 p.m., said Scott Owen, spokesman for San Juan National Forest.

The fire was burning about two-thirds of a mile north of Bear Creek Road as it heads into the San Juan National Forest, he said. A Type 3 helicopter was on scene making bucket drops from Lake Simpatico.

He said the fire was close to where another small fire started Thursday afternoon.

“They think that there are two or three different starts up there, and that they’re close together,” Owen said. “... They have additional air resources in the area if we need that.”

No further information was immediately available Friday night.

shane@durangoherald.com