| Contacts: | Denise Adamic, BLM (719) 269-8553 |
Mineral Fire Update (07-19-12)
CAÑON CITY, Colo. – The Mineral Fire that began in Custer County Wednesday is nearly contained. Firefighting resources remained on scene overnight and will work on the fire throughout today, Thursday. The lightning-caused fire has burned 0.8 acres of Bureau of Land Management land.
Wednesday a Single Engine Airtanker dropped three loads of retardant and a helicopter performed several water bucket drops to slow the flames.
Four engines from the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service along with resources from the Wetmore and Florence Fire Departments, and Fremont and Custer counties reported to the scene Wednesday afternoon.
The fire is burning in a remote area and no roads or structures are threatened.
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. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs. The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends. In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
3028 E Main Street Canon City, CO 81212