Forest Fire Burning At Pike National Forest
Blaze Consumes 200 Acres
POSTED: 5:06 p.m. MST April 1, 2002
UPDATED: 8:19 a.m. MST April 2, 2002
LAKE GEORGE, Colo. -- Firefighters are getting reinforcements Tuesday after working through the night to contain a wildfire in in Pike National Forest in Park County.
The fire (pictured, left), is near Lake George and Florissant, and has burned more than 200 acres, officials said.
Firefighters said the blaze is about 50 percent contained and crews had a
2-mile containment line built.
Forest Service officials believe a campfire started the blaze but did not say how they came to that conclusion.
The blaze was burning in rugged terrain about 60 miles southwest of
Denver.
No structures were threatened by the fire, dubbed the Platte Springs Fire.
The Lake George Volunteer Fire Department was being assisted by two National Forest Service engines. Another 20-member crew is scheduled to arrive from Custer, South Dakota later Tuesday.
Lake George is located in southern Park County west of Colorado Springs.
Winds gusting to 40 mph whipped up the blaze and restricted the use of helicopters and
planes to drop fire-retardant slurry.
Fire managers see this as more evidence of an early start to the fire season because of extremely dry conditions across the state.
Tuesday's low temperatures and high humidity rates work in favor of the firefighters.
The fire (pictured, left), is near Lake George and Florissant, and has burned more than 200 acres, officials said.
Firefighters said the blaze is about 50 percent contained and crews had a
2-mile containment line built.
Forest Service officials believe a campfire started the blaze but did not say how they came to that conclusion.
The blaze was burning in rugged terrain about 60 miles southwest of
Denver.
No structures were threatened by the fire, dubbed the Platte Springs Fire.
The Lake George Volunteer Fire Department was being assisted by two National Forest Service engines. Another 20-member crew is scheduled to arrive from Custer, South Dakota later Tuesday.
Lake George is located in southern Park County west of Colorado Springs.
Winds gusting to 40 mph whipped up the blaze and restricted the use of helicopters and
planes to drop fire-retardant slurry.
Fire managers see this as more evidence of an early start to the fire season because of extremely dry conditions across the state.
Tuesday's low temperatures and high humidity rates work in favor of the firefighters.
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