HINSDALE COUNTY, Colo. — UPDATE | July 10, 2:30 p.m. — USFS crews have determined the Elk Fire near the Gold Mountain Fire "is actually smaller than originally estimate," according to Hinsdale County. The fire is about 12.5 acres. There are a few small spot fires around its perimeter.
"Ground crews and aircraft continue to work on the fire in an effort to keep it as small as possible," the county said. "While the firefighters and aircrafts are making good progress, smoke will most likely be visible for a few days."
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Crews are fighting a new fire that sparked east of the Gold Mountain Fire on Thursday, according to Hinsdale County officials.
The fire, named the Elk Fire, began around 9:45 a.m. Thursday, and has since burned 20-30 acres, according to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS)-Grand Mesa Friday morning update. It's burning in the Uncompahgre Wilderness, located on the upper edge of Hinsdale county west of Highway 149 and north of Lake City.
"Airtankers are dropping retardant on the fire," Hindsale County's Thursday night update said. "This has caused the fire to put out more smoke which has filled the valley. The wind is coming from the west which is also still bringing smoke from the Gold Mountain Fire near Ouray."
Aerial resources from the Gold Mountain Fire were also assisting in the response Thursday, according to a post from the Gold Mountain Fire's incident management team. An additional 20-person crew was scheduled to arrive Friday morning to support containment efforts, according to the USFS.
There are no threats to communities or infrastructure, as of the Friday morning USFS update.
The Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests are under Stage 2 Fire Restrictions.
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