Wildfire near Beulah is fully contained

The wildfire burning at Pueblo Mountain Park is now fully contained after it burned around one acre.

Officials believe the fire started because of lightning.

Crews returned on Sunday to the scene of a small fire that started in a recreational area west of Beulah.

The fire was being called the Burch Fire, after an old campground in the area.

The Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office said dispatch began receiving calls about smoke in the area around 3:30 p.m. Saturday. Neighbors said the fire is burning near the fire tower at Pueblo Mountain Park, a nature area and campground in the San Isabel National Forest.

A park caretaker said late Saturday night that the fire poses no threat to people or property, even though the Forest Service listed the containment level at 0 percent. Crews went home for the night but will continue extinguishing the fire Sunday.

Lightning is believed to have sparked the 1-acre fire, and a helicopter dumped water there before being released from duty.

Neighbors said they became concerned after seeing and smelling smoke late Saturday afternoon and through the evening.

Highway 165 north of Rye was closed briefly to make room for emergency vehicles. The highway has since reopened.