Fire Sparked By Apparent Lightning Strike At Great Sand Dunes National Park
GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK, Colo. (CBS4) - Lightning is being blamed for a fire at the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in southern Colorado. Park officials say the Medano Fire started along the road to get inside in the grassland.
The fire burned more than 300 acres, and is 80% contained.
At 3pm, a fire started along the entrance road, in the grasslands. Park staff are working with neighboring fire agencies. At this time, inbound traffic and the visitor center are closed. There are no other evacuations. The park will provide updates as we receive them. pic.twitter.com/s9gFwvwYtV
— Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve (@GreatDunesNPS) May 18, 2022
Traffic was turned away, and the visitor center was closed. As of 8:15 p.m., the park was reopened.
"Fire crews will continue to work through the night until it is fully contained," park officials stated on social media.