Arid, warm conditions spark early fire season

By Cherry Sokoloski
North Forty News

No one likes to see dry lightning storms in March, especially firefighters and people who live in the woods.

Lightning is unusual for so early in the year, according to local fire experts, but that's what was occurring last month. Unusually warm weather caused the thunderstorms, and the fact that they had no rain associated with them made them doubly dangerous. In late March, Larimer County emergency services responded to four lightning-caused fires in just three days, two in Lory State Park, one in Redstone Canyon and another in Buckhorn Canyon.

"If things continue on the current course, we expect to impose fire restrictions early this year," said Larimer County Manager Frank Lancaster. "Everything is tinder-dry out there." He said the county can impose different levels of restrictions, depending on conditions.

Local fire departments have already been busy. As of late March, Poudre Fire Authority had already responded to 38 grass fires, almost double last year's number. The Wellington Fire Protection District had responded to 10 grass fires to date, compared to seven last year at this time. The question on everyone's minds: Will this year be a repeat of the bad fire seasons in 2000 and 2002?

Conditions are ripe for that to happen. Bob Poncelow, PFA battalion chief, said the large forest fuels are drier now than at the same time in either 2000 or 2002. On March 26, the National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for the area, which is "unusual for this early in the season," Poncelow said. A red flag warning means that temperature, relative humidity and wind conditions have combined in a dangerous mix. Under these conditions, there is high potential for a fire that, once started, could spread quickly and become a big event. As a result, all burning permits issued for March 26 were cancelled.

People have caused most of this spring's fires. The 54G fire east of Ted's Place started from a recreational campfire and quickly spread to 250 acres because of wind and dry conditions. On March 19 near Red Feather Lakes, a campfire was not extinguished properly and turned into the Lake Field Fire, burning about 5 acres.

For any type of outdoor burning, Poncelow noted, people need to obtain a permit from PFA by calling 221-6570. He cautioned people to be aware of both current and predicted weather conditions, since a fire burning safely in the morning hours can kick up dangerously with afternoon winds. Also, he said, "make sure any fire is completely out."

Bill Nelson, major of operations for the Larimer County Sheriff's Department, issued another word of caution. "People need to remember that it may rain hard one day, but the dead grass will dry out really quickly," he said. Within an hour, it will be almost as dangerous as before and can still burn out of control. The hills are still covered with dead grass, and moisture is needed for the new, fire-resistant grass to grow.