The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Moisture content good but still be careful with fire this week
by Mark Reaman
Despite two recent wildfires in the county, local fire officials are feeling pretty good about the fire situation in the region and there will be no fire ban imposed anytime soon. Still, they are adamant that people use caution when dealing with fire in the area.
The Gunnison Basin Wildfire Council met Wednesday to ascertain the situation and based on current moisture content in the woods and the weather forecast that calls for daily rain into the weekend, chairman Dennis Spritzer said there is a good comfort level.
“We are not looking at restrictions in the near future,” he said. “It appears we are setting up for some monsoonal moisture patterns and that will help with the fire issue. We just hope there isn’t much lightning with the rain.”
Lightning was the cause of the Rosebud fire that is burning near Pitkin. A definitive cause still has not been cited for the Walrod fire that burned for several days last week up Cement Creek.
“It’s dry but not horribly dry. We have certainly had worse years,” Spritzer said. “But that is no reason to not be careful with fireworks and campfires.”
Fireworks are not allowed to be set off on Forest Service or any federal land. That covers a lot of ground in Gunnison county. Under state law, fireworks that explode or leave the ground are prohibited anywhere.
“Our concern is with the dead wood lying on the ground,” explained Crested Butte fire chief Ric Ems. “We all agree that people still need to be careful. We advise everyone to watch their campfires and keep an eye on others that nearby. Make sure they are out when you leave and nothing is left smoldering.”
So the take-away this weekend as far as fire is that you can have one in the backcountry but be very careful with it. The county has already experienced a couple of wildfires and there is no reason to make it three.
