Lion Fire grows to over 16K acres

The Lion Fire is currently at 16,800 acres burned, after a 1,000 acres of growth overnight Saturday, the U.S. Forest Service reported Sunday morning. On Saturday, an aerial defensive firing operation was conducted along the southern edge of the fire north of the Lion Meadow trail (32E02).

The Lion Fire is currently at 16,800 acres burned, after a 1,000 acres of growth overnight Saturday, the U.S. Forest Service reported Sunday morning. On Saturday, an aerial defensive firing operation was conducted along the southern edge of the fire north of the Lion Meadow trail (32E02).

Ground resources were positioned at the intersection of the Deep Creek trail (32E06) and Burnt Corral trail (32E02) junction with plans on initiating hand firing operations west along the Lion Meadow trail (32E02) toward Burnt Corral, officials reported. These ground resources will remain spiked at Burnt Corral until Monday morning, Oct. 16, or until the firing operation is secured around Burnt Corral.

The plan is to continue with defensive firing (aerial and hand) along the Lion Meadow trail (32E02) west toward Burnt Corral until the fire is secured around Burnt Corral. The resources within the West and South divisions are continuing to prepare primary control line in preparation of planned backfiring operations, officials reported. Crews are reducing fuels and finishing line construction around private property and cultural values, while providing our firefighters the highest probability of success.