DENVER -- A wildland fire broke out shortly after noon Monday in a rugged area of Jefferson County, between Waterton and Deer Creek canyons. It was still burning hours later.

The blaze, dubbed the Trapper Mountain Fire, is located east of Shadow Mountain Trail, but no structures are currently threatened, 7NEWS reported.

Smoke from the fire could be seen from Denver.

The size of the fire was initially put at one-half acre, but it grew to 5 acres within several hours. A hand crew of about 30 firefighters was establishing a firebreak around the blaze Monday afternoon, which was on private property. Two single engine air tankers made several slurry drops on the fire during the afternoon.

Members of the 285 Wildland Fire Team were battling the blaze. They are from various fire departments along the Highway 285 corridor.

Area homeowners were notified of the fire by a reverse 911 telephone notification system and deputies went door-to-door in the sparsley-populated area to make sure residents were aware of the fire.

The fire was believed to have been started from a lightning strike several days ago.