Public lands managers are keeping a close eye on a lightning-sparked fire east of Ridgway, which started about a week ago and is burning in rugged terrain near Cow Creek.

The Winchester Fire was reported the night of Aug. 1, and it’s still burning roughly one-tenth of an acre in the Uncompahgre Wilderness about 6 miles southeast of Ridgway, due east of Baldy Mountain.

The fire, which is burning through some mixed conifer and spruce forests with some shrubs, has a low potential to spread, acc...