Fire crews are working to contain a small wildfire burning east of Bayfield.

A lightning strike on Sunday started the Dry Lake fire, north of Piedra. A person saw smoke Tuesday morning and reported it.

The fire is in a spot known as the “First Notch” area of the Columbine Ranger District.

Crews are on the scene, and the size of the fire is unknown as of Wednesday afternoon.

San Juan National Forest Spokeswoman Lorena Williams said that the fire is burning in a unit of the Vallecito-Piedra prescribed burn that was treated in 2019. The lines used to contain the prescribed fire in 2019 are still intact, and crews will use them once again.

“The reason that we do prescribe fire is exactly for the scenario,” Williams said. “When a wildfire either starts in or passes into an area treated by prescribed fire, it reduces the likelihood of it turning into a more extreme wildfire situation.”

Crews had already been working this season to prepare the existing control lines for this type of situation.

The Columbine Ranger District has its own unit involved, as well as a fire truck from both the Durango Fire Protection District and the Los Pinos Fire Protection District. Multiple crews from out of state cooperating agencies are also assisting.

“Fire managers are expecting containment late this weekend or early next week,” Williams said. “Because we are using existing control lines for indirect tactics, the duration of the fire will depend on fuel moisture and how quickly the fire spreads to meet those lines.”

Lightning-caused fire starts can sometimes smolder for days or weeks after the initial strike before the fire encounters drier fuels or weather patterns change, causing them to flare up.

Although the fire has been burning within a mile of private property, Williams said the property has not been threatened. However, smoke is likely to be visible to those driving on U.S. Highway 160.

rschafir@durangoherald.com