Durango Fire Protection District responded to what it described as a “man-caused” fire just before 6 a.m. Saturday morning in the 3000 block County Road 205 in the Falls Creek area northwest of Durango.
Fire Chief Dan Noonan said units initially responded to the 4000 block of County Road 203 but were redirected to the Falls Creek area, where they found the fire, about a quarter acre in size near a large meadow, burning in piñon juniper and ponderosa.
Six units with 17 personnel were dispatched, Noonan said.
“It is a man-caused fire and is under investigation as we speak,” Noonan said Saturday morning.
He said fire crews gained control of the burn around 7 a.m., which was on U.S. Forest Service land, and began transferring control to the Forest Service around 9:15 a.m.
“They’re in the process of what we call mopping up,” he said. “The fire is under control and has been since about 6:50 a.m.”
Noonan said there were light winds, but cloud coverage and humidity helped keep the flames manageable.
He cautioned that conditions in the region are dry, and extra care should be taken in all aspects considering fire danger.
“The community is being asked to be extra vigilant,” he said.
bmathis@durangoherald.com
