By Megan Graham
As we welcome the warmer, drier, windier months that characterize spring in Southwest Colorado, this spring also brings with it an air of caution and concern for the upcoming fire season because of historically low moisture levels this past winter.
As of April 1, the snow in the mountain basins that will feed our rivers this spring and summer was just 47 percent of the median amount we receive in our corner of the state – which includes the San Miguel, Animas, Dolores and San Juan river basins.
In all of 2017, precipitation in Southwest Colorado was just 9.27 inches – well below our annual average of 16.07 inches. Thus far in 2018, we have received less than half of the average to date: just 1.18 inches of precipitation compared with an average of 3.86 inches.
To prepare for what has already been an active fire season, a multi-agency group, including La Plata County, the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Forest Service, FireWise of Southwest Colorado, county fire districts, San Juan Basin Public Health, Colorado State Forest Service and local nonprofits, has coordinated to reach out to the community about wildfire risks, mitigation and preparedness so that we are all ready to respond if fire occurs.
Normal springtime conditions have exacerbated the conditions, with seasonal high winds blowing strongly throughout the region. These weather patterns, which have created exceedingly dry conditions for trees, shrubs, grasses and other ground fuels, have meant that local firefighting agencies have already been busy responding to fires this winter and spring – accidental fires, agricultural fires and some test fires.
The National Weather Service has issued multiple red flag days this spring, triggered by high winds and temperatures combined with low relative humidity. Local fire agencies have responded by withholding burn permits on those days, as well as strongly discouraging agricultural operators from burning. Before igniting any fire, call Central Dispatch at 385-2900 to report your plan and to make sure there are not burn restrictions in place.
In the meantime, there are a number of steps everyone in Southwest Colorado can take to be ready for wildfire and mitigate its effects on our homes and community. Creating defensible space around your home is critical, and FireWise can help. For information about grant and rebate programs to help keep your property safe, visit southwestcoloradofires.org.
La Plata County also offers emergency notifications via CodeRED. Sign up at http://bit.ly/CodeRed_signup. Once you sign up for these announcements, you will receive real-time information on your cellphone about all emergencies, including wildfire and information about evacuations, pre-evacuation and other essential emergency information.
While we are all remaining hopeful that April will still bring the showers that moisten our soils, quench our trees’ thirst and beckon May flowers, it is important to be prepared for what could be an active fire season if conditions remain as dry and warm as we have seen in recent months.
Take a look at the many preparedness resources available at ready.gov/wildfires and wildlandfires.org/Resident.
Learn about health risks associated with fire season, including red flag warnings, at bit.ly/81301_weather; and smoke effects at colorado.gov/airquality/wildfire.aspx.
And most of all, think rain!
This information was provided through coordination efforts from FireWise of Southwest Colorado, La Plata County, the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office, county fire districts, U.S. Forest Service, Colorado State Forest Service, San Juan Basin Public Health and local nonprofit organizations.
For more information, call FireWise at 385-8909.
Megan Graham is the public affairs officer for La Plata County.
