Centennial – Today Gov. Bill Owens authorized $2 million to help fight wildfires this summer, at a time when fire danger is nearly as high as the disastrous fire season of 2002.
But Owens said the state is far better prepared this year to fight fires.
“Now the warning signs are very clear: This could be a very difficult spring and summer in the state of Colorado,” Owens said.
“I am confident we’ll have the assets we’ll need, both federal and state, to address this situation.”
Owens said that over the past several years, the state has leased three single-engine air tankers and has bought 10 wildland fire engines. The Colorado National Guard also is prepared to use helicopters to help get to fires before they grow very large.
In 2005, fires burned 14,000 acres around the state, Owens said.
So far this year, about 70 fires have already burned 44,000 acres, according to the Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center.
Colorado State Forester Jeff Jahnke said below-average precipitation combined with prolonged drought has led to significant fire danger in southern Colorado and east of the Continental Divide.
