Media release provided by National Park Service PIO Dan Johnson. This press release can also be viewed at: http://www.nps.gov/dino/learn/news/ecklundfire.htm.
Fire crews at Dinosaur National Monument are responding to a lightning-caused fire in the Ecklund Draw area along the Green River’s Lodore Canyon.
The Ecklund Fire, located in the Ecklund Draw and Pot Creek area of Lodore Canyon in the Colorado portion of the monument, was reported just before dark on Saturday, June 27th and has since grown to 400 acres. It is burning mostly grass, brush and Ponderosa pine understory within an old fire scar. Ecklund Draw is located in a remote portion of the monument near the northwest boundary with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) near Black Ridge. The fire has started to spread to the northeast into the BLM Diamond Breaks Wilderness Study Area. This is where containment efforts are concentrated. The rocky canyon terrain is expected to help contain any southern or eastern spread.
In addition to monument staff, a Type III Helicopter from Yellowstone National Park and a Type II IA hand crew from the US Forest Service are working together to contain the fire. Additional hand crews and helicopter support have been ordered. The Ecklund Fire is being managed as a Type III Incident. No estimate on containment at this point.
The Ecklund Fire presents no immediate threat to monument visitors or structures. No evacuations are in effect at this time. Smoke may be visible in the monument from overlooks along the Harpers Corner Road and from along the Green River corridor through Lodore Canyon.
The upper lot of the Canyon Overlook along the Harpers Corner Road will remain closed while it is used for helicopter operations. The fire has not impacted any other visitor service or facility. For more information about Dinosaur National Monument, call
(435) 781-7700.
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