The Beaver Tail Mesa fire, burning high on a cliff along Interstate 70 on the Western Slope, is “in check,” according to the Bureau of Land Management.

The fire, sparked by lightning, has burned 52 acres and is 50% contained, said Eric Coulter, a BLM spokesman with the Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Unit.

On Thursday, the fire billowed a plume of dark smoke, but on Friday the smoke cleared as 60 firefighters continue to work on the burn northeast of James M. Robb Colorado River State Park-Island Acres.

Two helicopters and two wildland fire engines were used Friday to douse the fire, along with two hand crews and eight smoke jumpers, Coulter said.

“They’re doing good work up there,” Coulter said. “For the most part, they have a handle on it.”