WATERTON, Colo. -- Waterton Canyon, on the Jefferson-Douglas County line, remained closed Wednesday as a stubborn wildland fire continued to smolder.

The blaze broke out about 2 p.m. Tuesday and had consumed about 80 acres of rugged terrain. Natural barriers kept the fire from spreading further overnight and it did not grow on Wednesday.

A helicopter with a water bucket and three single-engine air tanker were used Wednesday to dropping buckets of water on hot spots on the north and south sides of the fire.

The SEAT plane dropped retardant on edges of the fire footprint Wednesday afternoon in a continuing effort to keep it from spreading.

Firefighters say they hope to have the fire 20 to 25 percent contained by Wednesday evening. Planes stopped flying at about 6 p.m.

A Type 3 fire management team from the U.S. Forest Service was coordinating firefighting efforts Wednesday. Three 20-person hand crews were called in to be prepared to battle the blaze, should they be needed.