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DINOSAUR, Colo. — A storm that moved through Utah and Colorado on Thursday touched off a series of small fires at Dinosaur National Monument, east of Vernal near the Colorado border. At least two of those fires were still burning Friday, but fire managers weren't in a hurry to put them out.
The monument's Quarry Visitor Center, east of Vernal, has people from all over the country stopping in to check out the scenery and the dinosaurs.
"We're starting into our busy summer season, people are coming in and out," said Dan Johnson, chief of interpretation at the monument.
There are some benefits to actually having fire do it's natural process, both for the grassland, the Pinyon-Juniper, different ecosystems that are found within the monument.
–Dan Johnson
Because there was no smoke visible from the visitor center Friday afternoon, it was not likely most tourists knew there was a fire burning about 20 miles away on the Colorado side of the monument.
"It's in what's called Wild Mountain. It's in a very remote part of the monument and so we have asked, if anyone is planning a back-country trip, like backpacking, to stay out of that area while the fire operations are ongoing," Johnson said.
The fire on Wild Mountain, dubbed the Wild Fire, is one of five that started in the monument Thursday.
"There was that small system that came through yesterday," Johnson said. "There were a number of lightning strikes that hit that ground within the monument, so this was a naturally caused fire."
Because the fire was started by lightning and poses no threat to private property, the National Park Service has decided to allow it to continue to burn in the remote part of Dinosaur National Monument.
- Campers can still use Dinosaur National Monument
- Backpackers and hikers should stay away from area of fire while it's still burning
- If you're going to have a fire, keep it in a contained area within the campground
"There are some benefits to actually having fire do its natural process, both for the grassland, the Pinyon-Juniper, different ecosystems that are found within the monument," Johnson said.
Fire crews from South Dakota have been called in to help manage the fire and a helicopter is also being used. Johnson said there are no fire restrictions in the monument right now, but that could change.
"We will continue to monitor that as the summer goes along to see what the conditions do," he said.
Johnson encouraged campers to use common sense if they decide to have a campfire while conditions are so dry.
"If you are going to have a fire, that fire should stay within a contained area, a grill area within the campground," Johnson said.
