Skies over the Uintah Basin are not looking good as crews work to contain the Peekaboo Fire in western Colorado. According to a BLM update, the fire reached 4,200 acres by Thursday as passing thunderstorms over the fire caused an increase in fire activity. The fire is burning in a remote, rugged area of BLM land 50 miles west of Craig but smoke can be seen from many locations in northwest Colorado and into eastern Utah. National Weather Service meteorologist Jim Pringle reports that the smoke is following the Green River drainage as the air currents travel at night and come into the valley during the day, pulling the smoke right into the Uintah Basin. The Peekaboo Fire is burning in pinion-juniper, grass and sagebrush on Peekaboo Ridge, just west of Irish Canyon and Moffat County road 10N and north of Highway 318. Approximately three ranches, multiple ranch structures and Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge are located a couple miles south of the fire and are being patrolled by ground crews. Currently, no structures are threatened. A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place around the fire to allow air operations to proceed safely. Anyone in or near the fire area is advised to use caution. Currently there are no public evacuations in progress.
