The Pine Ridge fire was under control Tuesday with hot spots still burning. Full containment of the wildfire southwest of De Beque is expected this week

A worker talks on the phone at the air operations part of the camp for the Pine Ridge Fire near DeBeque. More than 400 people are working the fire or support for the firefighters. Hope remains that the fire can be contained by Thursday, according to incident commander Bill Hahnenberg. The lightning-sparked blaze began June 27 and has spread to 13,360 acres.

The San Carlos camp crew from Arizona sets up a big tent at the ball park fields in DeBeque where many of the crews are sleeping during the fire. A Type-One team consists of not only firefighters but many support crews to take care of the logistical and personal needs. With all the influx of activity, the sleepy town of DeBeque has doubled in population.

One Bell 212 helicopter, top, carries a full bucket of water in to drop on the fire line as another heads back to the river with an empty bucket to get more water after making its drop during firefighting efforts along the north perimeter of the Pine Ridge Fire Sunday.

The Pine Ridge fire hits a ridge line west of DeBeque Saturday afternoon.

A helicopter drops water on the Pine Ridge fire west of DeBeque Saturday afternoon.

The Pine Ridge fire hits a ridge line west of DeBeque Saturday afternoon.

The Pine Ridge fire burns west of DeBeqye Saturday afternoon.

The Pine Ridge fire burns west of DeBeque Saturday afternoon.

A helicopter drops water on the Pine Ridge fire west of DeBeque Saturday afternoon.

A Helicopter drops water on the Pine Ridge fire west of DeBequr Saturday afternoon.

A helicopter drops water on the Pine Ridge fire west of DeBeque Saturday afternoon.

An air tanker lines up to make a drop on the Pine Ridge fire west of Debeque Saturday afternoon.

A heavy air tanker flies through smoke-filled air as the pilot lays down a line of fire retardant in the path of a large spot fire burning near De Beque on Friday.

The Pine Ridge Fire burns to the edge of the Colorado River and along the west side of De Beque Canyon at sunset Thursday.

Mesa County sheriff’s deputies stand guard on Interstate 70, watching the Pine Ridge Fire burn along the edge of the Colorado River. The deputies were watching to see if the fire jumped the interstate Thursday night.

The Pine Ridge Fire burns to the edge of the Colorado River and along the west side of De Beque Canyon at sunset.

A sculpture is shadowed by smoke and clouds in De Beque.

Rays of sunlight penetrate the dense cloud of smoke from the Pine Ridge Fire on Thursday.

Smoke turns the sun a brilliant orange as it peeks out from behind a cloud.

A stiff wind whips a trio of flags against a backdrop of the plume of smoke from the Pine Ridge Fire Thursday.

Concerned residents listen to officials as they talk about the Pine Ridge Fire and the possible evacuation of people living in threatened areas.

Russell Long, division chief with the Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management team, talks to residents about the Pine Ridge Fire and what steps they can take to protect their property in case they have to evacuate during a community meeting at the De Beque Community Center Thursday.

A woman attending the packed community meeting asks a question of officials.

Fire rages on a hill below the canyon rim in De Beque Canyon.

Pushed to the east by a north wind, the Pine Ridge Fire burns through vegetation on De Beque Canyon’s west walls and alongside the Colorado River Thursday evening.

Pushed to the east by a north wind, the Pine Ridge Fire burns through vegetation on De Beque Canyon’s west walls and alongside the Colorado River.

Pushed to the east by a north wind, the Pine Ridge Fire burns through vegetation on De Beque Canyon’s west walls and alongside the Colorado River.

Pushed to the east by a north wind, the Pine Ridge Fire burns through vegetation on De Beque Canyon’s west walls and alongside the Colorado River.

Pushed to the east by a north wind, the Pine Ridge Fire burns through vegetation on De Beque Canyon’s west walls and alongside the Colorado River.

Spot fires from the Pine Ridge Fire burns through vegetation on De Beque Canyon’s west walls above I-70.

Residents fill the De Beque Community Center to overflowing for a community meeting Thursday on the Pine Ridge Fire with officials.

As the plume of smoke from the Pine Ridge Fire rises on the horizon, Mesa County Sheriff’s Deputy Derek Johnson mans a roadblock at the intersection of V.2 and 44 Roads Thursday.

Mesa County Sheriff Stan Hilkey speaks to a standing-room-only crowd during Thursday’s community meeting at teh De Beque Community Center.

A heavy air tanker circles the Pine Ridge Fire on Thursday.

Flames run along a ridgeline southwest of De Beque on Thursday.

Exhausted firefighters who were up late in the night doing a burn back catch a few extra hours of sleep on the grass at the De Beque School Friday morning bfore returning to the fire line.

A handmade sign guides incoming firefighters at the De Beque School, where they are staying, eating,  and receiving their briefings.

Mesa County Sheriff’s Deputy Robert Hall rolls up his sleeping bag as he prepares to go back out onto the fire line Friday morning as Chris Kadel, right, gets ready to slide into his other boot. The two are members of the Mesa County Sheriff’s Wildland Fire team.

Resource advisors from the Bureau of Land Management’s Grand Junction Field office discuss how to attack the fire while protecting both valuable natural resources and natural gas facilites at the Incident Command Post Friday.

Wildland irefighter Doug Knight remarks about the heat in De Beque after arriving in town from the High Park fire outside of Ft. Collins on Friday. Part of an engine crew from Missoula, Mont, with the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), the firefighter Type 1 will be working to contain the Pine Ridge Fire southwest of town. The High Park Fire was burning in vegetation at about 7,000 feet above sea level and the air was cooler, he said.

The Pine Ridge Fire near De Beque has charred 1,500 acres, roughly doubling in size overnight as firefighters prepare for a busy Thursday, federal officials said this morning.

Fire engulfs cedar and brush Thursday afternoon. Courtesy Mesa County Sheriff’s Office

Embers and flames Thursday night. Courtesy Mesa County Sheriff’s Office

Flames from the Pine Ridge Fire erupt Thursday evening. Courtesy Mesa County Sheriff’s Office

The scene from De Beque on Thursday afternoon. Courtesy Candace Brereton

Smoke mixing with clouds as seen from Battlement Mesa. Courtesy Melinda Campbell

Smoke from the fire as seen from atop the Colorado National Monument. Courtesy Jessica Ferro

Clouds and smoke as seen from 24.5 Road Thursday afternoon. Courtesy Derek Marohn

The Pine Ridge Fire near De Beque has charred 1,500 acres, roughly doubling in size overnight as firefighters prepare for a busy Thursday, federal officials said this morning.

The smoke plume two miles north of De Beque Thursday afternoon.

View of the sun and smoke from Silt. Courtesy Kim Pardi

Smoke behind De Beque Community Center.

An early view of the fire plume, shortly after 2 p.m. Wednesday.

A wildfire sparked by lightning burns Wednesday north of the Bookcliffs and southwest of De Beque. Officials scrambled to try to warn anyone who might be living in the area between the fast-moving flames and De Beque.

View of the smoke around sunset Wednesday near De Beque. Courtesy Trystan Lopez Zumwalt

Thunderstorm mixes with smoke for this epic view on Thursday morning. Courtesy Bonnie Mcguire

The Pine Ridge Fire smoke plume as seen from Canyon View Park Courtesy Vanessa Park

Smoke, fire and clouds at sunset Wednesday. Courtesy Wade Yamaguchi

A view of the Pine Ridge Fire from 31.5 Road and the business loop. Courtesy Bonnie Mcguire

The view of Mt. Garfield on Wednesday from the backyard of Teresa Anderson. Courtesy Teresa Anderson

The smoke plume as seen from Mesa Mall. Courtesy Robyn Britt

View of the Pine Ridge Fire from I-70, north of Palisade. Courtesy Jorge Lopez

Another early aerial shot, showing smoke from the Pine Ridge Fire. Bureau of Land Management photo

The first aerial photo of the beginnings of the Pine Ridge Fire. Bureau of Land Management photo

A sign thanking firefighters sits in the foreground as a plume of smoke from the Pine Ridge Fire rises behind the De Beque Community Center.

The smoke plume from the Pine Ridge Fire, taken Thursday afternoon from Northcrest Drive near the airport. Courtesy Deb Fitzgerald.