County looks at changing fire restriction procedures

White River National Forest enacting stage 1 restrictions this week

[ By Katherine Nettles ]

Gunnison County officials are working on how to be as nimble and responsive as possible to the threat of wildfire this summer given the early season’s unprecedented heat and drought conditions across the West and the number of fires already burning in nearby regions and neighboring states. While there are no fire restrictions in Gunnison County yet, plans are moving forward to give more authority to the Gunnison County Sheriff’s Department to pass a stage 1 or stage 2 fire restriction more quickly if needed.

That would continue to happen in coordination with the Gunnison Basin Wildfire Council, which includes several county departments, the municipalities, local fire departments, several state agencies, and public land agencies like the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and National Park Service, but without the prior consent of county commissioners.

Under current county guidelines, commissioners need to convene for a fire restriction discussion and possible resolution, either on their regular weekly agenda or in a special meeting with 24 hours of public notice provided. The timing of either can be cumbersome when the fire danger increases on or near weekends or holidays. County emergency services director Scott Morrill presented commissioners with a different methodology on Tuesday, June 15 and commissioners agreed it is a good idea.
Morrill suggested that as in many other Colorado counties, the sheriff could be given authority to quickly enact and remove fire restrictions in Gunnison County if fire managers make the recommendation. The commissioners would then ratify the sheriff’s action at their next meeting.

“The way we’re doing it now is a little confusing for the public,” said Morrill.

“The reason behind it is to make the collaborative effort between all the government agencies simultaneous for the public, because it gets really confusing if we go into fire restrictions on the BLM and Forest Service and the rest of the county has to wait for another week,” added newly appointed undersheriff Adam Murdie.

“I would like to be able to move more quickly on these decisions this summer,” added sheriff John Gallowich, referencing a few times last summer when commissioners could not convene right away when the call came from the Gunnison Fire Council.
Commissioner Roland Mason said that given the persistent drought and heat that is predicted across the Western Slope, he agreed with the change in policy. “I would feel better about that,” he said.

Commissioner Liz Smith agreed. “What we’re witnessing currently in New Mexico and Arizona, I think we are lucky here. And I think the more we can be proactive and preventative the better,” she said.

Commission chairperson Jonathan Houck had to leave the commissioner’s meeting early due to a scheduling conflict, but shared his thoughts on the issue in advance that the significant wildfires in neighboring states would make resource availability a concern for everyone. “I think we should be conservative. Managing a large fire in our basin would be more challenging than ever this summer,” he said.

The county attorney’s office is drafting a document to reflect the changes and commissioners plan to review it next week for possible approval. One aspect to clarify is whether to leave stage 3 restrictions for commissioners, but allow the sheriff to enact stage 1 and 2.

The White River National Forest, which includes USFS lands in northern Gunnison County near Marble, and the Upper Crystal River Valley (UCR) will move toward stage 1 fire restrictions on Thursday, June 17.

Gunnison County will implement similar restrictions for that part of Gunnison County that lies within the White River National Forest. Morrill explained that this is done to ensure consistency and ease of understanding for the public, as well as for potential enforcement action.

Aside, from that, “Gunnison County is following the Gunnison National Forest, and not entering fire restrictions this week. Probably next week,” said Morrill. “Climate conditions in the UCR are often different than what we are experiencing on this side of the hill.”

The Upper Colorado Office of the BLM implemented Stage 1 restrictions for BLM lands in the Somerset, Muddy Creek and Hwy 133 Corridor this week. Pitkin, Garfield and Eagle counties are also enacting stage 1 fire restrictions. stage 1 restrictions prohibit any open flame that is not in a permanently constructed fire ring in a developed campground or picnic area; smoking in an open area; fireworks or explosives; and restrict operating a chainsaw and welding or other use of torch with an open flame.