More than 450 firefighting personnel continued to battle the South Rim fire burning Friday in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
The fire was 14% contained, according to a morning update, and the park remained closed until further notice.
"When the fire is 100% contained, formal damage and safety assessments will begin," the update said. "Initial assessments have determined that the South Rim Visitor Center, the administration building, and the entrance booth survived the fire."
But other sites, including the South Rim Campground and numerous bathrooms and overlooks, were either destroyed or heavily damaged. All reservations for the campground and wilderness permits are canceled.
The blaze was sparked by lightning on July 10, prompting the evacuation of all visitors and staff. Since then it's burned more than 4,200 acres, fueled by high temperatures, very low humidity, gusty winds and dry vegetation. Much of western Colorado, where the park is located, is experiencing severe to extreme drought, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor report.
Areas in and around the park in Montrose County are in Stage 1 fire restrictions, which means smoking and campfires are only allowed in specific areas.
Fire updates are posted to Inciweb and the park's website.
Some Black Canyon Visitor Center staff have been temporarily relocated to the Public Lands Center located at 2465 South Townsend Ave in Montrose. The visitor center, managed by the Bureau of Land Management, is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a one-hour lunch break at noon. Park service rangers are there to provide visitor services and answer questions, and the Black Canyon passport stamp is available. The phone number is 970-240-5300.
Rangers will also be offering astronomy programs at the nearby Curecanti National Recreation Area. Visitors can check the schedule on the Curecanti website.
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