Gusty and unpredictable winds forced ground and air crews to pull back from fighting two lightning-caused fires in southeastern La Plata County late Wednesday afternoon.
“It was a really dangerous situation for our crews to be in,” said Ann Bond, a public information officer for San Juan National Forest and Durango Interagency Fire Dispatch Center.
“I think the winds have been gusting up to 50 miles per hour. They pulled them off, but they should be able to get back to it for mop-up,” Bond said.
Rolling thunderstorms have kept firefighters busy with dozens of fires across Southwest Colorado since Tuesday night with the majority of fires under control or contained.
At least four lightning-caused fires were still active late Wednesday afternoon. They were in lower elevations where there has not been as much moisture.
The fires were south of U.S. Highway 160. They did not pose a threat to structures, Bond said.
The 2-acre South Blackridge Fire was near last year’s Stateline Fire on the Southern Ute Reservation, about 10 miles south of Durango and west of U.S. Highway 550. Smoke was visible from the highway Wednesday morning.
The Demon Fire near Arboles and east of Colorado Highway 151 grew to 25 acres.
Firefighters were sharing the same air tanker and helicopter for Blackridge and Demon, Bond said.
Crews also responded to a lightning strike 200 yards south of the Blackridge Fire that was quickly extinguished.
Some lightning activity also was reported east of the Durango-La Plata County Airport, but Durango Fire Marshal Karola Hanks said the impact was minor.
Norv Larson, a National Weather Service meteorologist, said the seasonal pattern of late-afternoon storms should continue for the next few days.
jhaug@durangoherald.coms
