With wildfire potential approaching the record-setting 2002 season, Gov. Bill Owens allocated an additional $2 million Wednesday to bolster firefighting preparations around Colorado.
“The warning signals are very clear: This could be a difficult spring and summer in the state of Colorado,” Owens said.
Already this year, Owens noted, wildfires have burned 42,000 acres – three times as many acres as in all of 2005.
The National Weather Service also has issued 25 red-flag warnings – when critical fire conditions exist or are imminent – since January.
“We’ve had more red flags this spring than anyone can remember,” said Allen Gallamore of the Colorado State Forest Service’s Golden office.
Indications point to a wildfire season that is “much more active than last year,” Owens said. While resources are available, he called on residents to help prepare their homes and communities.
At particular risk of wildfire are areas below 8,500 feet that have received little precipitation, including east of the Continental Divide – encompassing the populous Front Range – and the southern third of the state.
State Forester Jeff Jahnke blamed the higher-than-normal fire potential on trees, shrubs and grasses dried out by a prolonged drought and below-average precipitation.
Warm and dry conditions are forecast through August. Measurements taken earlier this week in the Lake George area of Pike National Forest showed some fuel moisture levels are lower than in 2002.
Under prevailing conditions, “not much more prescribed burns will get done,” Gallamore said of the controlled blazes used to reduce wildfire threats.
Bleak moisture prospects on top of dry conditions have prompted discussions about coordinated fire restrictions between county, state and federal agencies.
Conferees decided Wednesday to give Mother Nature a chance to drop some moisture and will reassess possible fire restrictions next week.
“We’re teetering on the edge, but we’re not quite there yet,” Jefferson County sheriff’s specialist Mark Gutke said.
Owens said lessons learned during 2002 – Colorado’s worst fire season in history, with 600,000 acres burned and 388 houses destroyed – have led to better preparedness.
Under Senate Bill 96, which unanimously passed the Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday, $3 million would be put in a wildfire preparedness fund. The measure now goes to the Senate floor.
The $2 million announced by Owens will come from the state’s disaster emergency fund and is in addition to $358,000 that Owens earmarked in February for wildfires.
The money will allow the state to contract for three single-engine air tankers to be positioned where fire danger is greatest.
Owens said the 800-gallon-capacity aircraft have been effective in “first strikes,” containing wildfires at less than 100 acres.
In addition, 10 fire engines will be positioned in the state’s so-called red zone, where wildland and urban areas come together and homes are at risk.
Owens said the Colorado National Guard has Huey and Black Hawk helicopters available, and three Department of Corrections inmate firefighting crews are prepared.
Nationally, 16 heavy tankers and 100 heavy helicopters are available.
Staff writer Ann Schrader can be reached at 303-278-3217 or aschrader@denverpost.com.
