PIÑON CANYON MANEUVER SITE, Colo -- Calmer winds could help slow the spread of a wildfire that started on a military training site in southeastern Colorado.

The Bridger Fire was estimated to be burning on 42,000 acres Friday, fanned by two straight days of strong winds. Officials said there was zero containment, but fortunately, it did not grow overnight.

The fire broke out Tuesday on the Fort Carson Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site and jumped the Purgatoire River, a natural fire break, and was burning in surrounding federal, state and private land.

Eight ranches are threatened. The area is also rich with Native American rock art and artifacts from the waves of settlers who've called the area home for centuries.

At the request of Fort Carson, the Rocky Mountain Type II Incident Management Team Bravo assumed management of the fire, under the direction of the Forest Service, Colorado State Forestry and Fort Carson.

There were approximately 260 personnel fighting the fire Friday, although additional resources had been ordered and will continue to arrive throughout the next several days. Crews have been performing structure protection for several facilities on the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site and the Rourke Ranch Complex on the Picket Wire Canyonlands, which is just off the northeast corner of the maneuver site.

Residents in the area will continue to see smoke, some heavy at times, over the next several days as crews work toward containment.

"This is a complex interagency effort due to the extreme burning conditions and all agencies are working together exceptionally well to fight this fire," said Col. Eugene B. Smith, Fort Carson Garrison Commander.