The Loading Pen Fire near Stoner in the Dolores River Valley held at 35 acres Wednesday, fire officials said.

The fire is burning in thick timber on the steep flanks of Haycamp Mesa. As of Wednesday, a control line at the top end of the fire was holding, and progress was being made along the flanks, fire officials said.

The fire was started by lightning June 13, and is being fought with a full suppression strategy. It is visible from Colorado Highway 145.

Eighty-four firefighters are on the ground, including the San Juan Hotshots and Tatanka Hotshots. Planes and helicopters have been dropping water and retardant. A bulldozer and fire engines are also on scene.

Firefighters are working against strong winds on steep terrain, officials said, and are making progress establishing control lines from a meadow along the river to the top of the canyon rim.

“This fire has continued to be active, even through the last couple nights,” said Incident Commander Brad Pietruszka, “but the crews have done an excellent job trying to get around it.”

As of 5 p.m., the top control line of the fire was holding, fire dispatch reported. Crews on the ground and in the air are monitoring for spot fires so they can be suppressed. Contingency plans are being developed should the fire escape the current lines.

Tuesday night, the fire crossed control lines. Tree ignition known as “torching” was observed about 6 a.m. Wednesday and remained active in a few pockets, according to Inciweb.

Fire behavior in mixed conifer and aspen includes isolated torching, creeping and backing fire.

A containment anchor point has been established on the northern edge of the fire near the bottom of the hillside. Hotshot crews were working in tandem, chopping in fire line uphill on the eastern and western flanks.

A red flag warning for critical fire weather was issued for Wednesday. Critically low humidities overnight have resulted in fire growth. Conditions are predicted to remain the same in the short term.

A local, Type 3 Incident Management Team is coordinating the firefighting effort. Smoke will continue to be visible, especially from Colorado Highway 145, and smoke is settling in the valley. Authorities request that drivers do not stop to watch fire activity on the narrow road.

The relatively large group of 84 firefighters was deployed because the steep, dense terrain limits access for fire engines and other equipment, said San Juan Forest public information officer Esther Godson. Ground crews are supported by an air attack.

“With the terrain conditions the way they are, having sufficient crews to hike up and put in control lines is the best access,” she said.

Gusty winds, dry fuels, low humidity and the potential for the fire to spread to the vast surrounding forest made full suppression a priority for the Loading Pen Fire. The wildfire is about 8 miles southwest of the 2018 Burro Fire burn scar.

jmimiaga@the-journal.com