Lightning strike sparks new fires in Mesa County near state park

Dry thunderstorms rolling across western Colorado Wednesday night and Thursday morning set the scene for nine new fire starts in Mesa County.

While most of the starts were single trees or small, contained areas, the Beaver Tail Mesa fire has reached 60 acres and is continuing to grow as of 3 p.m., said Olivia Bruce, public affairs officer for the Bureau of Land Management.

Located along the Interstate 70 corridor to the northeast of James M. Robb Colorado River State Park, past an area referred to as “Island Acres,” the fire was started by a lightning strike and spurred on by hot, dry conditions in the area, Bruce said.

Currently, I-70 remains open and no evacuations are being ordered at this time.

Resources from the Bureau of Land Management and MCSO Wildland Fire along with Plateau Valley, Palisade and DeBeque Fire Departments have all been dispatched to the fire, including smokejumpers, fire engines and other aircraft, Bruce said.

According to a Thursday news release from the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office, air crews have spotted another active fire three miles to the south, and fire crews will also be responding to that area.

Source: Read Full Article