Firefighters expect full containment of a 3-acre wildfire burning in the 2002 Missionary Ridge Fire burn scar area north of Durango, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

The lightning-caused fire had been smoldering for about three days before being discovered on Monday, said Gretchen Fitzgerald, spokeswoman for the San Juan National Forest.

The fire stoked up and produced visible smoke on Monday, the first hot and dry day in a while, Fitzgerald said. The Forest Service received a call about the fire at 5:43 p.m. Monday and flew in a 10-person helitack crew to work through the night with assistance from helicopter water drops.

The fire is located on Missionary Ridge between Haflin Canyon and Stevens Creek, Fitzgerald said. It’s about 3 miles southeast of Hermosa and 1½ miles east of Trimble Lane (County Road 252).

Two smaller wildfires have been contained, including one between Lemon and Vallecito reservoirs and one near Bear Creek. Both fires were less than an acre in size.

rsimonovich@durangoherald.com