In Castle Rock, where fire season has yet to reach its peak, firefighters from five jurisdictions came together Saturday for wildland-firefighting training.
Using a mobile dispatch unit, the training groups from Franktown, Larkspur, Castle Rock, West Douglas County and Jackson 105 surrounded local homes to run through drills. A helicopter gave demonstrations by picking up and dumping water on empty land.
Stretches of hot, dry, windy weather can bring increased fire danger throughout the state, and the upcoming July 4 holiday is fueling concerns.
“Anytime you have increased traffic on public lands with high fire risk already, there’s more danger,” said Katherine Timm, spokeswoman for the Colorado State Forest Service.
Because of the heavy moisture dumped during winter and spring, wildland grasses are very tall, said Richard Auston, training and education division chief with Castle Rock Fire and Rescue. So there is the potential to have a significant fire season.
“Maybe not right now, but in September or August. That’s what we’re preparing for,” he said.
The Colorado Division of Fire and Safety will ramp up vigilance around the holiday. The state usually sees an increase in fireworks-related fires around Independence Day, said Kevin Klein, director for the division.
There will be additional staff on duty and more law enforcement tracking down illegal fireworks, he said.
The fire season is predicted to be a normal one, which means a few fires are expected, but that can change as time goes on, said Larkspur Fire Chief Jamey Bumgarner.
If the summer monsoon rains don’t provide a break to scorching temperatures, the tall grass will go from green to brown, turning into what fire officials call ladder fuel.
Flames on the wild grass can reach up to 10 feet, making an easy leap to heavier fuel such as nearby pine trees, Auston said.
Examples are the recent fires on the Western Slope, where precipitation levels for the year remained low.
“They’re just bone dry,” Timm said. “As you move westward from the divide, fire danger increases.”
An additional four counties will be implementing fire restrictions beginning during the holiday weekend.
Restrictions in Eagle and Summit counties went into effect Saturday. In Montrose County, they begin today, and Montezuma County will implement restrictions Monday.
The White River and San Juan national forests, Ute Mountain and Southern Ute Indian reservations, and Mesa Verde National Park also are enforcing restrictions.
Restrictions vary, but most include a ban on the use of explosives, such as fireworks, and limiting campfires to permanent fire rings or grates within developed campgrounds.
Aside from following restrictions, people can lower the fire risk by taking precautions, like not throwing cigarette butts out car windows, keeping cars off dry vegetation and making sure campfires are extinguished properly, Timm said.
“Somebody who’s careless with a campfire can lead to disaster on the Western Slope,” she said.
Staff writer Simona Gallegos can be reached at 303-954-1555 or sgallegos@denverpost.com.
Fire restrictions around the state
Grand Junction, McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area
Garfield County
Pitkin County
All Bureau of Land Management lands managed outside of Grand Junction
All Glenwood Springs BLM lands
Mesa County
Archuleta County
Eagle County
Summit County
White River National Forest
Montrose County in effect today
Mesa Verde National Park in effect Monday
Montezuma County in effect Monday
San Juan National Forest in effect Monday
Southern Ute Indian Reservation in effect Monday
Ute Mountain Ute Indian Reservation in effect Monday
A detailed listing of restrictions is available at dola.colorado.gov/dem/public_information/firebans/firebans.htm
