Efforts being undertaken to battle the Mason Gulch wildfire in Custer and Pueblo Counties were detailed to the Fremont County Board of Commissioners at today’s regular meeting. Paul Crespin, District Ranger for the San Carlos District of the U.S. Forest Service, reported that strides made today against the 11,700 acre fire in the San Isabel National Forest were important to containing the fire. Crespin said it was a miracle that no homes or outbuildings had been lost since the lightning caused fire was first spotted Wednesday evening, July 6th.
Crespin praised the efforts of all the firefighting agencies and contributions made by Fremont County agencies and citizens to help in the firefighting. He said the initial flights last Thursday by a pair of single engine tanker planes stationed at the Fremont County Airport this summer were vital in protecting lives and property in the Wetmore area. Crespin said the focus now is to prevent the timber fire from crossing North Creek Road in Pueblo County and reaching the homes and ranches in the Beulah Valley.
Commissioner Ed Norden also praised the work of airport manager Richard Baker and the airport staff who worked through the weekend to keep the planes in the air. Demand for fuel outpaced supply and the airport ran out of fuel Friday afternoon. An emergency delivery of jet fuel from Denver arrived at noon Sunday.
The County Commissioners adopted a countywide fire ban which is detailed in a separate announcement on this web page.
In other action:
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The Commissioners approved a Special Events Liquor Permit for Canon City VFW Post 4061 to serve the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s annual banquet on August 13th at the Fremont County Airport Industrial Park.
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Approved an amendment to the Special Review Use Permit for Children of the Son to operate year round. The facility will continue to have restricted use as a summer camp for young girls from May 1 to September 1. Jamey and Katrina Madonna will now be permitted to use the facility as a retreat and convention facility from September 2 to April 30 each year.
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Approved a preliminary plan for Cool Commercial Filing One….a five lot major subdivision on the south side of Highway 50 at Penrose between ‘L’ and ‘M’ streets. The Commissioners stipulated that a lot owned by developer Steve Cool on the north side of the highway where a stormwater detention pond will be built, be included on the subdivision plat and listed on the deed to clarify future maintenance responsibility.
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The Board also appointed Commissioner Mike Stiehl as the Fremont County designee to the Arkansas Basin roundtable. Nine river basins in Colorado will be represented on the statewide water roundtable dealing with interbasin water compacts. The roundtable was created by the 2005 Colorado General Assembly through approval of HB 1177.