Vinotok celebration fire likely to remain at Four-way for next year

But fire will be 20 percent smaller

It appears the annual Vinotok fire won’t be going anywhere soon, at least not next year—but the blaze will probably be significantly smaller than last month’s bonfire.

Crested Butte Chief Marshal Tom Martin reported to the Town Council that an event debriefing meeting had been held with town staff, Vinotok organizers and the Crested Butte Fire Protection District.
The fire is the culmination of the fall Vinotok celebration and in recent years has grown to epic proportions. This year, several neighbors came to the town council and expressed concern that dangerous embers were putting their homes and neighborhoods in danger of catching fire.
“We expressed our concerns about the size of the fire and the embers that were drifting in the neighborhood,” Martin told the council. “Vinotok organizer Molly Murfee said she understood the concerns and wanted to address the issue but was pretty adamant about keeping the fire at the Four-way.
“She asked that perhaps the town staff and fire department oversee the building of the fire to reduce its size,” Martin continued. “I think it’s important we work with her on the fire.”
Martin said Fire Chief Ric Ems was not opposed to shifting the location of the bonfire. Two potential sites mentioned were the gravel pit at the entrance to town and over by the dirt jumps on the northeast edge of Crested Butte.
“But at this time I think we should keep it where it is,” said Martin. “Let’s give it another year there and see how it goes. I’d ask that perhaps we have some fire control people in the neighborhood at the time.”
Councilperson Roland Mason suggested that the committee look into putting a screen over the giant fire to catch the embers, sort of like a fire pit. Martin said he would look into the idea.
Next year, Martin said, his department would help oversee the construction of the fire with the Fire Protection District. “We should be able to easily reduce the size of the bonfire by 20 percent,” he said. “We can do that by adjusting the diameter of the fire ring and controlling the fuel load.”
So it appears that Vinotok 2014 will stay on the path its been on for the last several years and that a fire at the Four-way Stop will cap off the fall celebration. Unless of course, the Grump is found not guilty next year.