Fire above Gold Camp contained after 3 acres burn

A mountainside fire whose smoke could be seen from Old Colorado City was fully contained July 5 after burning three acres in all. As smoke rises from the hills beyond, police stop motorists from driving past 26th Street and Gold Camp Road the afternoon of July 4. Called the Bear Canyon Fire, it was contained the next day after burning 3 acres. Westside Pioneer photo        Called the Bear Canyon Fire, it had been started by lightning the night of July 3 east of Bear Creek Park on National Forest and El Paso County land, according to a press release from Dawn Sanchez of the U.S. Forest Service.        No homes were threatened, although two mountain roads in the vicinity (Gold Camp Road and High Drive), were closed, as well as trails. The afternoon of July 4, police officers were turning back mountain-bound cars at the five-way intersection of Gold Camp, Lower Gold Camp Road, Bear Creek Road, Wheeler Avenue and 26th Street        The fire was fought by teams on the ground, air tankers dropping retardant chemicals and helicopters bringing water to the firefighters from the South Suburban reservoir, Sanchez said. Westside Pioneer/press release