Fire at Milk Creek burns wild, is being watched

RBC I The Milk Creek Fire, 15 miles northeast of Meeker and 3.5 miles east of Yellow Jacket Pass, was reported July 4. Attack resources responded immediately.
As of Wednesday, the fire was approximately five acres and burning slowly in an aspen/conifer stand. Officials are managing the fire to reduce dead and downed vegetation and to improve forest health.
The White River Fire Module has been on the fire for the last three days and continues to monitor the burn. The assessment is that this fire will not become large. Some growth is expected to occur in patches of subalpine fir that is surrounded by aspen and is serving as a natural barrier.
Blanco District Ranger Ken Coffin of Meeker said, “We are managing this fire to achieve forest health and fuels reduction, which means we will not actively suppress the fire. However … we will closely monitor the fire and frequently reassess our strategy. Because this site is fairly high elevation and wet, and because we have crews and resources immediately available should we need to take a more aggressive approach, we have chosen this management option.”
The Milk Creek Fire is south of private land holdings within the boundary of the White River National Forest.
In the coming weeks, people will occasionally see smoke as the fire consumes downed woody material and standing trees, Coffin said.