A small fire is burning between Dolores and Rico, just south of Colorado Highway 145 on San Juan National Forest property.
Dubbed the Bear Creek 2 Fire, the blaze was first reported about 8 a.m. Friday and grew to 1½ to 2 acres by 4 p.m., according to Dolores District Ranger Derek Padilla. Ground and air personnel from the U.S. Forest Service and from out of state have responded.
The fire is in the Bear Creek area, and no structures have been threatened. As of Friday afternoon, it was believed the fire started from natural causes, Padilla said.
The fire is burning through open meadow and aspen trees, which are not conducive to fire, although the current drought has allowed it to migrate, Padilla said.
While there’s no extreme fire behavior, the steep slope of the terrain has presented some challenges to the fire crews on scene as they try to set a line around it, he said.
ealvero@the-journal.com