Gov. Bill Owens has banned all open fires and fireworks in state parks.
At a press conference this afternoon at Centennial Airport, the governor said the ban is effective immediately in all state parks and forests.
He cited dry conditions statewide, the worst since 2002, the year of the devastating Hayman and Missionary Ridge fires. He said important lessons were learned that year and the state is taking steps to be better prepared this year.
“As the July 4th holiday approaches, more people will be coming into our parks and forests, making it imperative that we take all precautions we can,” he said.
“Celebrating this country’s independence is a good thing. But using fireworks in high-risk areas is not,” he said.
In addition to signing an executive order this morning, enacting the ban, Owens sent a letter to all county and city officials, asking that they take appropriate steps to limit the risk of fires.
Owens said he had the authority to enact a statewide ban, but felt a better plan would be for local governments to determine their own measures.
Owens has also committed $3 million in state money to combat the Mato Vega fire burning on nearly 9,000 acres east of Alamosa.
The fire’s size estimate was upped to nearly 12,000 acres this afternoon. It’s 30 percent contained.
Pete Blume, the incident commander, said the next two days will be key in battling the blaze. He said Tuesday was a great day for fire crews considering the type of fire, and said they hoped for similar progress again today.
“The more of those days they can stack back-to-back,” Blume said, “the more likely we’re going to catch it.”
U.S. 160 remains closed between La Veta and Fort Garland at least through today. Blume said it is his hope that pilot cars will be able to lead traffic on U.S. 160 on Thursday.
Owens, in the region to tour the fire site this morning, said it is important for people to be careful with fire outdoors.
“Many experts are stating this summer is starting to replicate the summer of 2002. We’ve already lost more acres this year than all of last year combined,” Owens said. “So the message is: Be very careful. As summer starts and we approach the July 4 weekend, we don’t want to put anymore of these men and women in harm’s way.”
Blume said fire managers believe the entire fire is on the 350,000-acre Forbes Trinchera Ranch. Containment is along a four-mile stretch of U.S. 160 where crews have been lighting back fires to prevent the fire from burning back on the Wagon Creek subdivision.
Four helicopters were making water drops on the fire this morning and Bloom said he hoped to have two more on scene later in the day.
Fire managers have positioned 24 engines; eight water-tenders and seven bulldozers on the ground, and Blume said he has put in a request to boost the number of personnel fighting the fire from 283 to 320.
Mandatory evacuations remain in place for homes on Old La Veta Pass and in the Paradise Acres and Wagon Creek subdivisions. Forbes Park, to the south of the fire, faces a voluntary evacuation.
Crews will focus their efforts today on structure protection in the 40-home Paradise Acres subdivision. No structures have been lost and no injuries have been reported since the lighting-caused fire started Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Lions Creek fire, which started following a vehicle rollover Tuesday afternoon, has burned about 1,660 acres and threatens numerous houses and outbuildings in the town of Paradox, located about 50 miles southwest of Grand Junction.
There are currently 17 engines, a helicopter, several air tankers and nearly 250 people assigned to the fire, according to the Bureau of Land Management’s Moab Field Office.
