Jensen, UT & Dinosaur, CO - Due to minimal activity over the past two days, fire crews on the Ecklund Fire are beginning mop up and demobilization activities.
The Ecklund Fire was reported just before dark on Saturday, June 27th. Lightning was determined as the cause of the fire. Ecklund Draw is located on Black Ridge in a remote portion of the monument at the monument's northwest boundary and adjacent to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Diamond Breaks Wilderness Study Area.
Today, the monument accepted the fire response back from the Type 3 Incident Command Team. One helicopter and one fire crew will remain in the area to monitor the fire for any new starts. Fire activity has been minimal for the last two days, with no new fire growth. The total acreage for the fire remains at 526 acres.
Crews constructed suppression lines around portions of the fire, while the remaining areas are contained by cliffs and rock outcrops in very steep terrain, which limited fire fighter access. Interior smoke may continue to be visible for several more days. Monument staff will continue to monitor the fire by helicopter and fire lookout and take action as needed until the fire is officially declared out.
The Ecklund Fire presented no immediate threat to monument visitors or structures. All monument facilities are open. For more information about Dinosaur National Monument, call (435) 781-7700.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
