June 28, 2013, 5:30 PM -- DURANGO – Firefighters are responding to two new lightning starts this afternoon on the San Juan National Forest following afternoon thunderstorms in the high country. Both are single tree burning at this time in remote areas.
An engine crew has hiked into the Helmet Fire in the Hogback area northeast of Mancos. This single tree fire was reported at 3:30 p.m.
Smokejumpers are en route to the Whitehead Fire two miles northeast of Molas Lake, where a single tree is burning on the edge of the Weminuche Wilderness above 11,000 feet in elevation. Smoke is visible from U.S. Highway 550 on Molas Pass.
For information on closure areas related to the West Fork Complex on the San Juan NF, go to: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/sanjuan/alerts-notices/?cid=stelprdb5425885&width=full
To report a fire on public lands, please contact the Durango Interagency Fire Dispatch Center at 970 385-1324 or call 911.