Fremont County Sheriff Jim Beicker and the Fremont County Commissioners have reacted to the dry and volatile weather conditions by imposing a countywide fire ban. Sheriff Beicker announced Wednesday that after consultations with Cañon City District Fire Chief Bill Guindon he decided to request imposition of the fire ban. Recent rangeland wildfires in Huerfano and Jefferson Counties prompted Governor Owens this week to also impose fire restrictions on state lands.
The Fremont County Commissioners met in emergency session Thursday morning to formally authorize the fire ban requested by Sheriff Beicker. Fire Chief Guindon addressed the Commissioners saying that the winter weather has been deceiving and that the lack of any recent moisture has resulted in drought-like conditions. Guindon says the dry conditions are combined with strong winds that never seem to die down. Guindon says compounding the problem is that there are limited resources available to fight wildfires during the winter because we are outside the typical wildfire firefighting seasons for state and federal agencies.
Deer Mountain Fire District Board President Byron Alsup also informed that Commissioners today that the Deer Mountain Fire District has also imposed a fire ban through action taken by that district board Wednesday evening.
The Fremont County Commissioners met in emergency session Thursday morning to formally authorize the fire ban requested by Sheriff Beicker. Fire Chief Guindon addressed the Commissioners saying that the winter weather has been deceiving and that the lack of any recent moisture has resulted in drought-like conditions. Guindon says the dry conditions are combined with strong winds that never seem to die down. Guindon says compounding the problem is that there are limited resources available to fight wildfires during the winter because we are outside the typical wildfire firefighting seasons for state and federal agencies.
Deer Mountain Fire District Board President Byron Alsup also informed that Commissioners today that the Deer Mountain Fire District has also imposed a fire ban through action taken by that district board Wednesday evening.