| Contacts: | Denise Adamic, BLM (719) 269-8553 |
Highway 50 and Arkansas River to Reopen after Spike Buck Fire (06-21-12)
CAÑON CITY, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management and Colorado Department of Transportation reopened U.S. Highway 50 and the Arkansas River today at 1 p.m.
The highway and river had been closed from Texas Creek to Parkdale since 2:30 p.m. Wednesday when the Spike Buck Fire started 14 miles west of Cañon City.
“The cooler temperatures and higher humidity have helped us get a handle on this fire,” said Keith Berger, BLM Royal Gorge Field Manager. “Thanks to Deer Mountain Fire, Tallahasse Fire, Fremont County, and the Colorado Department of Transportation, we were able to attack this fire quickly.”
The Spike Buck Fire is contained. It burned 6 acres of BLM land south of U.S. Highway 50. A firefighting crew will remain on scene throughout the day to monitor the fire.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. In Fiscal Year 2012, activities on public lands generated $4.6 billion in revenue, much of which was shared with the States where the activities occurred. In addition, public lands contributed more than $112 billion to the U.S. economy and helped support more than 500,000 jobs.
3028 E. Main Street Canon City, CO 81212