Lowline, Thunder fires burn near Gunnison, Norwood

Two lightning-sparked fires were burning in forests of western Colorado Friday morning and firefighters were ramping up efforts to suppress flames.

Clouds and rain Thursday afternoon helped slow the largest fire, dubbed the Lowline fire, which was burning mostly on public land managed by the U.S. Forest Service about 14 miles north of Gunnison. Smoke plumes rose from a ridge, at an elevation of 9,400 feet, between Squirrel and Mill creeks. The fire was burning spruce and aspen in forests laden with dead and fallen trees.

Federal fire managers on Friday morning said hot weather will favor the flames.

“We expect this fire to build some intensity again, though not necessarily making big runs,” said Rick Barton, spokesperson for the interagency team fighting the fire. “We are in full suppression mode.”

No injuries or damage to buildings were reported.

Ground crews were using bulldozers to try to create breaks around the fire, Barton said. Three helicopters hauled large buckets of water for dousing flames. Gunnison County authorities have evacuated residents of ten homes along County Road 818. Other residents of about 40 homes have been told to be ready to evacuate.