Fires on the Colorado Western Slope created smoky and hazardous air conditions even in areas that are nowhere near the flames. Fort Collins was enveloped in smoke for many days in early August as the Lee Fire, the fifth-largest fire in Colorado history, burned in Rio Blanco County.
The Lee Fire was caused by a lightning strike Aug. 2 and has since covered over 137,000 acres. Lynn McAloon, a public affairs officer for the U.S. Forest Service, said the fire is now largely contained and officials are focused on rehabilitation.
“We’re going back and working on the rehabbing of those suppression areas, and we are almost done with that on the western flank of the fire,” McAloon said. “We will be continuing that repair operation over the next few days.”…