SUMMIT COUNTY, Colo. — High winds Saturday afternoon rekindled piles of fire fuels that were being burned on the back side of Keystone Resort, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) said.
According to a release from USFS, the piles were burned in Keystone Gulch Wednesday and Thursday. About 1,500 slash piles were burned as part of an important fuel reduction effort, the release said.
Saturday's new burning stayed within the original piling burning area, according to USFS. It spread on the ground between the piles through the residual slash, the release said, which is the small branches left over from the fuel reduction work that are too small to be stacked in the piles.
USFS said some trees within the pile burn area caught fire as well. The fire Saturday burned about 20-25 acres of the 39-acre pile burn unit, the release said.
USFS said much of the area is surrounded by snow and the risk of spread outside the pile burning area is low.
About 20 firefighters are on scene to ensure the perimeter is secure, the release said. Smoke may be visible over the next several days.
RELATED: Latest forecast
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