County implements Stage 1 fire restrictions

Five-acre fire burning in Gunnison National Forest up Mill Creek

By Katherine Nettles

As a small, uncontained wildfire started near Gunnison this week, officials from Gunnison County and the public lands within the county have reinstated a Stage 1 fire restriction effective Thursday morning, August 20 at 12:01 a.m. The restriction puts a ban on most open fires in the area. Meanwhile on Monday, a wildfire was reported within Gunnison County in the Mill Creek area on Forest Service land. 50 firefighters were on the scene as of Wednesday to try and control the fire.

County commissioners passed the fire restrictions on Tuesday, August 18 in coordination with the Gunnison Basin Wildfire Council. County and federal land managers had previously enacted a Stage 1 fire restriction from July 8 to July 28 this summer but lifted it when steady rainfall over a two-week period improved drought conditions. The numerous wildfires around the state and lack of rain across western Colorado have given rise to a new round of restrictions, including in Montrose, San Miguel and Hinsdale counties.

Restriction means…

The Stage 1 fire restriction prohibits any fires that are not contained within permanent constructed devices. Open fires, dispersed camping fires and agricultural burning is not permitted. Fireworks are also prohibited, as are other activities related to combustible materials listed in detail on the county website.

Officials still say that in the Gunnison Valley, there have been no confirmed issues with human error involving fires, although many secondhand reports of human-related risks have been coming in, such as fires not being fully extinguished or being left unattended at local campsites.

Gunnison County emergency manager Scott Morrill spoke to commissioners on Tuesday, saying, “Multiple counties around us have moved to Stage 1 or Stage 2 restrictions.” He explained what keeps us from Stage 2.

“One of the things we talk about is consistency,” Morrill said. “The biggest issue is human starts. People are being very well behaved and taking care of their fires. When we are looking to Stage 2 is when we are seeing human-activity fire starts.”

Morrill noted that GMUG and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) have adopted the same restrictions and timeline as Gunnison County. “We rely very heavily on our federal partners, and their recommendation is Stage 1,” he said. Morrill also suggested it’s better to be cautious where other resources in Colorado are being drained by other fires.

The restrictions become effective Thursday, August 20. Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests Fire Information is available at (970) 874-6602 and West Slope Fire Information is available at www.WestSlopeFireInfo.com.

Firefighters on scene

Meanwhile, U.S. Forest Service officials reported the Mill Creek fire had been discovered burning in the Gunnison National Forest, West Elk Wilderness about 12 miles northwest of Gunnison, west of Cunningham Reservoir and National Forest Service Road 727 on Monday. There were no structures threatened or “values” at risk from the Mill Creek Fire and it was uncontained at five acres as of press time. As of Wednesday morning, The USFS was reporting that there were 50 firefighters working in steep rugged terrain. “The fire crossed the Mill Creek trail overnight due to spotting. Firefighters will continue to work to keep the fire in the Mill Creek drainage and hold containment lines,” a press release stated. Due to the fire’s location on National Forest System lands the following closure will be enacted immediately:

National Forest System Trail (NFST) #450 Mill Castle Trail, from the trailhead at the western terminus of NFSR #727, westward approximately 7.6 miles to Storm Pass.

This closure is being enacted in the interest of public health and safety. The public’s patience and understanding is greatly appreciated on this manner. For questions concerning this emergency closure please call the Gunnison Ranger District at 970-642-4425.

In the interest of public safety, fire officials are asking people to avoid the area.