Brief by Central Staff
Wildfires – June 2002 – Colorado Central Magazine
When it comes to campfires in the mountains this summer, the most appropriate attitude is “Don’t even think about it.”
Every county in Central Colorado has, or soon will have, some sort of fire restrictions in effect. All ban fires outside of the standard firepits in campgrounds, and some ban even those — along with all forms of outdoor flame or ember, like smoking cigarettes.
The fire restrictions are in place because 2002 has so far been dry and windy, and the “fire season” began in April, rather than July or August.
Already two major wildfires have erupted in the Bailey area along U.S. 285 in the foothills Stupid Zone, and two homes were destroyed on April 30 in a 600-acre wildfire that struck the Cuerno Verde and Antelope Valley subdivisions south of Westcliffe.
Other residences were threatened, but a big turn-out of volunteer firefighters helped save them. Custer County Sheriff Fred Jobe said the blaze apparently originated as a yard clean-up that got out of control. It violated the county’s fire ban that had taken effect the day before, and Jobe planned on talking with the district attorney’s office about prosecution.
Another fire in the same area occurred several days earlier, when about 15 acres in the Breece Creek area burned, apparently after lightning struck.
We’d like to think these will be the only wildfires around here this year, but the outlook isn’t promising.