A helicopter has been working for the past several days to take water from Lemon Reservoir to douse a quarter-acre fire northeast of Durango.
The 816 Fire was first reported Monday and was originally at one-tenth of an acre, said Devin Wanner, acting public information officer for the San Juan National Forest. He said the fire’s cause remains under investigation.
The fire remains small, burning at a low intensity in the Red Creek drainage about halfway between Durango and Vallecito Reservoir, said Chris Tipton, fire management officer with the San Juan National Forest.
The Forest Service, in a Facebook post, reported a Type 3 engine, Type 1 Wildland Fire Module and a Type 1 helicopter are working the fire. Firefighters will remain on scene until the fire is contained, according to the post. The cause is under investigation.
Helicopter pilots also must make occasional proficiency drops to demonstrate their skill, and that too may be behind some helicopter activity over Lemon Reservoir, Tipton said.
parmijo@durangoherald.com