Wednesday, June 19, 2013

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Current conditions causing wildfire concerns
Posted: 09.07.2010 at 7:11 PM
Abbie Burke

Abbie Burke is a general assignment reporter for FOX21 News.

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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- This year a rainy summer has helped to keep the fire activity low, and the greenery high. But now that greenery has turned into something else - fuel for wildfires.

"All the fuels got real nice and green and tall. And now we haven’t had anything to keep any moisture in them," Lt. C.J. Nauert, with the Colorado Springs Fire Department, Station 4 said.

Fire officials fear that the rain has simply postponed fire season.

“Well I think what we've done is just kind of shifted that now into the fall. I think we'll have a pretty busy fall,” Nauert said.

Shane Coyne, Foreman for the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Wild Land Fire Crew, agrees.

“The fire danger is certainly on the rise, and so we have to be very careful, especially as we go into fall with the winds it's really gonna be an issue," Coyne said.  

Officials said until the area sees more rain people need to be extra cautious.

“We're continuing to see a drying trend, and so as long as that continues without much moisture the light fuels especially in the eastern part of the county are going to dry out very very quickly. And they're going to be very volatile, so people need to be careful out there,” Coyne said.

Fire officials said the fall is typically a time when prescribed burns take place to clear out potential fuels for fires. But because of the current weather conditions they are all being postponed.

Crews are currently focusing their attention on the fire burning in Four Mile Canyon just northwest of Boulder. Officials there have called out for backup from crews all over the state including Colorado Springs and El Paso County. The Colorado Springs Fired Department sent 15 crew members, three large fire engines and a support vehicle Tuesday.

“We’re always available to help out our partners. Anytime anybody calls for help we’ll always send them,” Nauert said.

The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Wild Land Fire Crew has also been called in to help. So far they have sent nine people and two support trucks.

Both crews said while they are happy to do all that they can to help, they will always keep enough crew members and equipment around to keep the city and county safe.

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