Despite an out-of-control fire in Durango and a half-dozen others burning across the Western United States, firefighters say they’re still prepared to handle a large wildland blaze in the region.
So far, this has been an average fire season and nothing compared with some recent seasons, when dry conditions stretched resources.
“Right now there’s potential and the conditions, especially across the Western Slope, that we could see significant (fire) activity at any time,” said Janelle Smith, spokeswoman for the Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center, which dispatches firefighters to wildland fires across the region. “If we get to a point where we’re having difficulty with a fire, then we can tap into the national system and get resources from other parts of the country, in most cases within just one to two days.”
Typically, wildland fire season in Colorado runs from June through late July, Smith said. And so far this season, there have been about 1,165 wildland fires that have burned 19,404 acres in the region, which includes Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas, Smith said.
“Most of the (fire) activity this season has been focused in Colorado, Wyoming and South Dakota,” she said.
Already, firefighters from Minnesota and Idaho have come to Colorado to provide support.
In addition, fire crews and a helicopter from Colorado are helping fight a massive blaze in Utah that, as of Monday, has charred 300,000 acres.
In Colorado, a stubborn wildfire continued to burn in the southwestern section of the state, but nearly 100 firefighters had it 50 percent contained late Monday.
The fire, just south of Mancos and west of Durango, had grown to 1,520 acres Monday since lightning started it Saturday night, said Eric LaPrice, spokesman for the Delores County Public Lands office.
One residence with two outbuildings were destroyed. No injuries have been reported.
In Delta County, a fire was reported Monday afternoon that threatened several homes northeast of Hotchkiss in Wolf Park on the Grand Mesa, a county dispatcher said. The fire was estimated to be between a dozen to four dozen acres, with several crews on the scene. No evacuations had been ordered, but residents were on alert.
In southwestern Colorado, the fire season has started later than in past years but has picked up almost overnight, said Mark Lauer, fire-management officer for San Juan Public Lands.
“We’re now full-blown into it, and seemingly overnight we have numerous fires going on locally and across the Western United States,” Lauer said. “As far as resources, we’re doing OK.”
Staff writer Mike McPhee contributed to this report.
Staff writer Manny Gonzales can be reached at 303-954-1537 or mgonzales@denverpost.com.
