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JULY 25, 2000

A 30-acre fire continues to burn on Taos Pueblo land, inching towards Blue Lake, a sacred lake returned to the tribe by the federal government in the 1970s.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs and the US Forest Service are battling the Turn On fire which is being attributed to lightning on Saturday. The weather seems to be cooperating, however, and crews expect to have the fire contained by the end of the week.

The fire is currently about 4 miles south of the lake. The lake and area are closed to everyone except tribal members, but crews are being welcomed by the Pueblo.

Nationwide, almost 3 million acres of land have been affected by wildland fires, according to the National Park Service. Almost 56,000 wildfires have been reported, the majority in the southern states, including Oklahoma.

Related Stories:
Mesa Verde fire grows, nears ruins (Enviro 7/25)
Fire threatens reservation, ruins (Enviro 7/24)
Pueblo monument fire out of control (Enviro 05/08)
Fire closes National Laboratory (Enviro 05/09)
Pueblo affected by fire (Enviro 05/11)
Sacred site saved from fire (Enviro 5/15)
Fire burns Pueblo land (Enviro 5/16)
Clinton suspends prescribed burns (Enviro 5/17)
Pueblo seeks fire aid (Enviro 5/18)
Pueblo still affected by fire (Enviro 5/19)

Relevant Links:
The National Interagency Fire Center - www.nifc.gov