Lightning fire contained on Southern Ute land in Archuleta County

Photo courtesy Matt Archuleta, Bureau of Indian Affairs
The Torch Fire burns last week on a remote mesa top in the southwestern part of Archuleta County, approximately 1 mile north of County Road 500. The fire was ignited by lightning. Being that it was low-intensity, the fire was seen as helping reduce ground fuels. The fire was 100-percent contained by noon on July 4.

By Casey Crow

Staff Writer

According to the Durango Interagency Dispatch Center, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) took advantage of the unusually wet conditions to manage a small lightning fire on Southern Ute land late last week.

The Torch Fire began on July 1 and burned on a remote mesa top in the southwestern part of Archuleta County. The fire burned approximately 1 mile north of County Road 500.

The mesa top was not accessible by road, which left firefighters hiking for over an hour to reach the fire. The mesa was covered with old-growth ponderosa pine and an understory of Gambel oak. Juniper grew beneath the pine and many large, dead trees covered the ground.

The BIA Fire Management Plan recognized the need to restore fire to the area, especially due to the fire-dependent ponderosa pine forests. The Torch Fire, being that it was low-intensity, was seen as helping reduce fuels on the ground.

In addition, due to the unusual moisture of the current conditions, the BIA felt it was safe to let the fire burn in a controlled manner.

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