A small, lightning-caused fire is smoldering about 20 miles southeast of Meeker, but firefighters aren’t concerned. In fact, fire officials say that increased fire activity could actually benefit the forest.
The fire, burning about one mile south of the South Fork Campground, was discovered Saturday when a small amount of smoke became visible. Firefighters say that the fire probably ignited several weeks ago when lightning last passed through the area, but above-average moisture kept it from growing to a noticeable size.
It has been named the Cave Creek Fire.
Firefighters say that they are ready to start suppressing the fire if necessary, but for now they are content to let it burn. “Taking advantage of this opportunity to reduce wildfire fuels now will help us if a fire were to start in this area in a different year when conditions could be more extreme,” Blanco District Ranger Curtis Keetch said.