A wildfire burning northeast of Durango that initially posed a risk to homes when it broke out earlier this week was fully contained Thursday, La Plata County spokeswoman Megan Graham said.
The 84 Fire started around 3 p.m. Tuesday, and an evacuation notice went out shortly after for residents east of Helen’s Corner, including the Tween Lakes and Enchanted Forest subdivisions.
But after a swift air and ground attack, the evacuation notice was downgraded to a pre-evacuation notice by Tuesday evening as crews managed to control the blaze to a point where it no longer posed an immediate risk to homes.
After aerial crews spent Tuesday night forming a perimeter around the wildfire north of county roads 245 and 502, the blaze was 50% contained by Wednesday morning.
On Wednesday, hand crews were able to dig out the perimeter even farther, achieving 70% containment. The rest of that work was completed Thursday, Graham said.
“They spent the day hauling their hoses off the hillsides and continuing mop-up,” she said.
The response will be further dialed back Friday, she said, with three personnel from the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control and one engine from Upper Pine River Fire Protection District.
Dry and windy weather conditions initially had emergency responders concerned the fire would kick up in intensity. Those concerns, however, never materialized.
“They got a break,” Graham said.
First estimated at around 40 acres, an aerial survey Wednesday confirmed the 84 Fire consumed only 25 acres. The fire started on private land and moved onto Bureau of Land Management lands.
Upper Pine River Fire Protection District Chief Bruce Evans said Tuesday night the fire was caused accidentally by someone using an electric saw.
The fire district posted to Facebook on Tuesday night the fire was “started with a simple mistake, cutting pipe with a circular saw, then turning your back for a second.”
“Just a guy doing an honest day’s work and not realizing the fire danger,” the post said.
In addition to Upper Pine, the U.S. Forest Service, Colorado Division of Prevention and Control, Durango Fire Protection District and San Juan Hot Shots responded to the blaze.
“If it wasn’t for a swift air attack and backup (from) our crews with the San Juan Hot Shots, there would be a ton of heartache in Tween (Lakes) and Enchanted Forest,” Upper Pine said.
A previous version of this story had the incorrect name of the 84 Fire.
jromeo@durangoherald.com
