Black Friday Blaze Puts Residents on High Alert
Trevor Phipps
Last year on Black Friday, a self-defense shooting that resulted in a death shocked Woodland Park and created a scare during the popular holiday weekend.
This year, residents were on high alert once again after hearing news of a wildfire igniting on the famous day when many are out and about.
Again, the shooting range, located on the Teller-Douglas County border, became the prime area where the latest human-caused blaze occurred. While not surprising, the recent wildfire put residents on edge, as it marked the second late season fire that has riddled the region.
Luckily, the first major snowstorm of the season struck on late Dec. 2 and throughout Dec. 3, putting some of these fears to rest.
The latest fire was first reported just before 2 p.m. on Black Friday at the Turkey Tracks section of the National Forest, located about 10 miles northwest of Woodland Park and was subsequently named the Turkey Tracks 69 Fire. Turkey Tracks is a popular unsanctioned shooting range on the Douglas-Teller border that is frequented by many gun buffs, including those coming from cities in the Front Range
After authorities received the call about the fire, the local fire departments opted to take a hands-off stance. “Due to unexploded ammunition and a focus on firefighter safety, we are taking an indirect approach for #TurkeyTracks69Fire while utilizing full suppression efforts,” the Forest Service said on social media. “Smoke will be visible for the next few days as fuels continue to consume within the fire perimeter.”
According to recent local news report, the Turkey Tracks area was filled with trash and a large amount of unspent rounds, prior to the blaze. Neighbors in the region have told local television stations that the area has been so riddled with trash and irresponsible shooters that they don’t feel safe going in there anymore.
The recent Turkey Tracks 69 Fire marks the area’s third fire this year, with one blaze in April torching 128 acres. Another fire broke out at the shooting range last May. In October 2024, the range was closed to shooting, following seven fires in that area.
Due to the frequent number of wildfires in the area, fire crews have dug a permanent fire line around the shooting area to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby neighborhoods. However, the last blaze that ignited in April came close to the highway causing several residents in the area to grow concerned.
The latest Turkey Tracks fire comes in the wake of an unprecedented fire ban for this time of year, enacted recently by the Teller County commissioners. Due to ultra dry conditions in October, the county was hit with a Stage 1 ban.
But a recent snowstorm that blanketed the region with nearly a foot of moisture in some sections may improve Teller’s high fire danger scenario. Weather forecasters are predicting an above-average rate of snowfall this season, once the first storm strikes.
