Thick forest and beetle-killed trees are helping fuel a wildfire burning near the Colorado-Wyoming border.
The Beaver Creek Fire, which started June 19 northwest of Walden, Colorado, has spread to about 18 square miles as of Wednesday. It's crossed into the Mount Zirkel Wilderness and U.S. Forest Service spokesman Aaron Voos told Steamboat Today that could allow it to burn for some time.
He says firefighters will focus instead on battling the fire elsewhere in the Routt National Forest.
Smoke from the fire has spread east and created haze along the Front Range.
The fire is only 5 percent contained and full containment isn't expected until Aug. 1.
