Saturday, June 15, 2013

Lightning Starts Six Fires in Dinosaur National Monument

Lightning strikes from a Thursday storm started six fires within Dinosaur National Monument according to Joe Flores, Fire Management Officer. All five fires are located on the Colorado side of the Monument.

Aerial surveys were conducted of the two fires burning in the Wild Mountain area. According to Flores, the Wild fire is now estimated to be approximately 362 acres and the Hacking fire is approximately 10 acres in size. These numbers may change once firefighters have walked the fire's boundary.


A fire module and helicopter support is now on scene, and an additional module is en route. At this time, both fires are being managed for the benefits fire provides to the monument's natural resources. Located in a remote area, neither fire poses any threat to property outside the monument boundaries or any monument facilities. Firefighters are coordinating with private inholdings within that portion of the monument to protect private property.

Three other fires that resulted from the lightning strikes on Thursday, June 13 have been successfully controlled. The Echo Fire was located near the Echo Park Overlook on the Harpers Corner Road. The Pool Fire was between Pool Creek and Trail Draw and the Limestone Fire was near the Iron Springs Bench area.

A sixth fire has now been identified in the Limestone Ridge area, which is north of the Echo Park area and east of the Green River. This fire, which is not currently named, will be suppressed. More information will be released on this fire once it has been obtained.

Visitors are advised to avoid the Wild Mountain area of the monument both for their safety and to not interfere with fire operations. None of the fires are located near the Dinosaur Quarry and visitor services or facilities have not been affected by fire operations. For more information on Dinosaur National Monument, call us at (435) 781-7700.


Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

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