US forest in Colorado to re-open after fire danger ends

DURANGO, Colo. – A sprawling forest closed because of extreme fire danger in southwestern Colorado will re-open Thursday after getting steady rain.

An announcement from the San Juan National Forest Wednesday said that up to 1.5 inches of rain fell in some parts of the 2,800 square mile (7,252 square kilometres) forest over two days, more than typically falls during an entire average June. Meteorologists and fire behaviour experts say fire conditions have moderated, and they don’t expect them to return to extreme conditions before the expected arrival of summer monsoon season.

The rain, remnants of Hurricane Bud, put a damper on a wildfire that has burned 53 square miles (137 square kilometres) north of Durango. Residents of over 2,000 evacuated homes have all been allowed back.

The forest closure started June 12.