Fire reaches 5,500 ac at Great Sand Dunes NP&Pres
A fire sparked by lightning on June 6 in Great Sand Dunes National Park now covers nearly 5,500 acres. While 344 firefighters are battling the flames, park managers also are using the fire to achieve management goals.
The "Medano" fire is burning near Little Medano Creek in an area of Ponderosa pine forest about 4 miles north of the park's visitor center. It has forced the closure of the Medano Pass Road from its beginning in the park to Highway 59 on the east side of the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range, according to Park Service personnel. The Sand Ramp Trail also is closed at Castle Creek, and the Mosca Pass Trail is totally closed, they added.