Colorado and much of the Rocky Mountain West is looking at an “average” fire season this year, forecasters said in their first seasonal wildfire assessment issued today.
The Denver-based Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center said below-average snowpack, drought in some areas and a forecasts for a warm, dry summer could raise fire danger in some areas this summer.
“Fire activity on the western slope of Colorado may be more active than last year due to predicted above-average temperatures,” the forecast stated, adding that that Front Range should see normal fire activity.
The five-year average is 2,442 fires burning 45,553 acres each year in Colorado.
The Rocky Mountain region covered by the forecast includes Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota.
Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter will issue his annual fire season forecast later this month, his office said this afternoon.
