Fire burns 5,000 acres at Great Sand Dunes park

By The AP
Friday, June 18, 2010

ALAMOSA — A wildfire burning in the Great Sand Dunes National Park is now estimated to have grown to 5,000 acres.

Park spokeswoman Carol Sperling said today the fire isn’t threatening park facilities but it may have reached the boundary of the San Isabel National Forest. More crews are expected Friday to join the 30 people already battling the blaze.

It’s believed that lightning started the fire. It was listed at roughly 450 acres earlier in the week but has grown amid warm, dry weather and winds.

Red-flag warning are in effect in southern and central Colorado, meaning the fire danger is high because of low humidity, high temperatures and winds.