Officials Cite Concerns Over Dry Conditions and Lack of Resources
Rick Langenberg
After months of reaping the benefits of huge snowfalls and heavy precipitation, and no fire bans for an extended period, the red-flag reality of Teller County’s often dangerous wildfire situation has returned.
This has set the stage for the immediate enactment of Stage 1 restrictions, with the possibility of more bans in the future.
The predictions of a dry and arid summer are right on the mark, and parts of Colorado are raging with huge wildfires. In addition, sizzling temperatures are scorching the region, with record-mercury levels on certain days. Even Teller and the Ute Pass area, a region not exactly known for high temperatures, has nearly hit the 90-degree mark at times this summer and red flag warnings have been frequently issued. Many July days have encountered little rain and cloud cover, as the usual monsoon patterns have not developed this year like they did for the last two summers.
The above-mentioned scenario may be great for area hikers, golfers and picknickers, but it can pose big challenges for emergency service providers, firefighters and law enforcement officers.
As a result, the Teller County commissioners issued a Stage 1 ban during an emergency meeting, held via a phone conference on July 31.
The good news is that the commissioners only declared a Stage 1 ban, which doesn’t impact residents too much, especially with such activities as outdoor barbecuing and smoking. But Stage 1 restrictions often serve as the first phase of fire restrictions, usually leading to Stage 2 prohibitions. With a worse-case scenario, a Stage 3 ban can occur, which basically shuts down all recreational and forest service areas.
Under a Stage 1 ban, no open campfires are permitted on public and private lands. In addition, the restrictions prohibit the firing of model rockets and using fireworks and explosives and burning of irritation ditches.
It does, though, still permit charcoal grills outdoors, under more stringent conditions, and outdoor smoking. But if the current conditions continue, most likely the last two activities listed will become illegal.
This is the first county-wide ban imposed in well more than a year. Oddly enough, moisture conditions were reported as quite good in the spring, with snow levels in the high country well above normal levels. Ski mountains in Colorado had a near record season of snow totals.
But the last few months have produced little moisture. Some afternoon rainstorms have occurred, but not to the degree of previous summers.
On the upside, no major fires have occurred in Teller County.
But certain sections of the state, especially in sections near Boulder, Lyons, Loveland, Jefferson County and parts of Denver, are getting hammered by raging blazes, capped by the Stone Canyon and Quarry fires and the Alexander Mountain Fire. Governor Jared Polis has even enlisted the National Guard to assist with the response. The current blazes already resulted in at least one death and a number of destroyed homes, and the evacuation of hundreds of residents.
Some of these blazes are tough to contain due to the difficult terrain and a lack of resources, according to news reports.
In the emergency resolution adopted by the commissioners, the elected leaders cite the current weather conditions and lack of precipitation as the primary reasons for the ban. But they also have expressed concerns over a significant lack of firefighting resources, forcing the imposition of the ban.
