6 p.m.: Both wildfires burning near Ute Pass Road in northern Summit County have been contained as of around 5:50 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11, after lightning ignited two small areas late in the morning.

Crews contained the fires, which were about a quarter-mile apart on White River National Forest Service land, to less than one-tenth of an acre, according to David Boyd, a public affairs officer.

Summit Fire & EMS sent a ground crew to the fires, supported by a Blackhawk helicopter that made several bucket drops. Crews are continuing to mop up the fires Tuesday evening with no control issues.

Boyd confirmed around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday that lightning started both fires.

“We work together on wildfires to ensure we get the most effective response regardless of jurisdiction,” Boyd stated.

No structures were damaged, and crews are expected to finish work by Wednesday, Aug. 12 at the latest.

12:30 p.m.: Crews are actively responding to two wildfires burning Tuesday, Aug. 11, near Ute Pass Road in a remote area on the north end of Summit County, with smoke visible from Colorado Highway 9. 

Summit County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Mike Schilling said the fires appear about a quarter-mile apart. The agency believes these are single-tree fires, according to a Sheriff’s Office Facebook update around 12:15 p.m.

“Currently, there’s no structures at risk and no evacuations being considered,” Schilling said around noon Tuesday. 

Schilling said a helicopter is en route to assist crews with mitigation efforts. 

The sheriff’s office initially reported the fire in a department Facebook post issued around 11:30 a.m.

Officials don’t yet have an estimate of the combined size of the fires. Schilling said while a cause hasn’t been determined, weather may have played a role. 

“We do know that there was lightning in the area,” Schilling said. 

Responding agencies include the Sheriff’s Office, Summit Fire & EMS, the Red, White & Blue Fire Protection District, U.S. Forest Service and the Colorado Division of Wildfire Prevention and Control. 

The Summit County Sheriff’s Office said evacuations are not a consideration at this time, according to a department Facebook post issued around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 9.

The fires were reported in a wilderness area around 10 miles northwest of Williams Peak, where a small wildfire ignited in the afternoon July 30.

Officials didn’t immediately provide information about the fire’s estimated size, cause or potential damage. The sheriff’s office will provide updates when more information becomes available.