<\/p>\n
A lightning-caused fire in the Weber Mountain Wilderness Study Area near Mancos has shown no growth since Friday, and another small fire that sprang up near Dove Creek has been contained.<\/p>\n
The Hilltop Fire started on the eastern flank of Weber Mountain about 6:30 p.m. Thursday after a lightning strike the previous day. Incident commander Ian Barrett said it did not appear to grow beyond a tenth of an acre on Friday.<\/p>\n
By Monday, fire was expected be extinguished naturally, said Patrick Seekins of the San Juan National Forest\u2019s Dolores Ranger District.<\/p>\n
The Hilltop Fire was one of about 10 lightning-caused fires on BLM land over the past five days, Barrett said. The Cow Canyon fire was the largest, he said, covering about 3 acres in a section of the San Juan National Forest east of Dove Creek. Three Type 3 engines and about 15 personnel were fighting that fire. Like the Hilltop Fire, it burned in a remote area, and Barrett said it posed no threat to private property. By Monday, the Cow Canyon Fire was 100 percent contained and remained at 3 acres, Seekins said.<\/p>\n
In the Mancos area, fire officials said the BLM would continue to monitor the Hilltop Fire with a Type 4 fire engine, particularly during the hottest part of the day. The fire, which involved a tree struck by lightning, was in a steep, rocky area and was expected to be declared dead in a couple of days, Seekins said.<\/p>\n
Barrett added that fire danger in BLM lands has fallen significantly this month because of increased humidity and rain, and the small lightning-caused fires occurring now resemble a \u201cnatural fire cycle\u201d more than June\u2019s large wildfires.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot all fires are scary and dangerous,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n