Crews battled wildfires in northwestern and southeastern Colorado on Tuesday as fire managers predicted the danger would remain high.
A wildfire burned at least 300 acres and threatened a historic ranch and other structures in a canyon south of La Junta, said Larry Helmerick of the interagency Rocky Mountain Coordination Center.
Geologists working in the area had to leave.
Helmerick said lightning may have started the fire Monday. Three single-engine air tankers, a helicopter and an elite firefighting team were at the scene.
A lightning-sparked fire 13 miles west of Meeker in northwestern Colorado burned at least 2,000 acres of grass and sagebrush on Bureau of Land Management land.
No structures were threatened but crews were trying to protect a power line. The blaze began June 3. Helmerick said a helicopter and a special team were requested to help 35 firefighters.
Fire danger was expected to remain high across Colorado on Wednesday, Helmerick said.
Jefferson County imposed temporary fire restrictions Tuesday that included a ban on fires outside fire grates. Smoking was prohibited outside vehicles, buildings and developed recreation sites.
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