Fire restrictions to remain for the holiday

Drought persists despite a rainy week

[ By Katherine Nettles ]

Despite several rainy afternoons and even a few days with steady rainfall, the overall moisture deficit throughout the Gunnison Valley and greater western region of Colorado remains larger than a rainy period can extinguish. The county has received less than an inch of total rainfall during the past week, and wildfire experts and county officials have decided that the Stage 1 fire restrictions enacted last Thursday for Gunnison County and all US Forest Service (USFS) and Bureau of Land Management lands will stay in place for now.

The White River National Forest, part of which is located within Gunnison County, and counties to the north of Gunnison County are remaining in Stage 2 fire restrictions.

“The rain has definitely helped, though it is not a drought buster by any means,” says Gunnison County emergency services director Scott Morrill. “The rain bought us a little time,” he reflected.

The Grand Mesa Uncompaghre and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forest had recorded between .25 and .75 inches of rainfall over a seven-day period as of Tuesday, June 29, using remote automated weather (RAW) stations throughout forests within the county. The RAW stations have recorded the higher amounts of rain at higher elevations within the county.

Glen Sachet, GMUG public information officer, said that rain has helped lower our local fire danger rating from extreme to high. “But we need more consistent rain in order to come out of these drought conditions,” he said.

Sachet also wanted to remind people that fireworks, and even possession of fireworks, are illegal on National Forest lands.