With forecasts pointing to a potentially widespread wildfire season, Montezuma County officials will hold a public meeting early next week to share preparedness information and answer residents’ questions.
The next community information meeting is set for Tuesday, March 24, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the board of County Commissioner’s second-floor meeting room, at 109 W. Main St.
The goal of next week’s meeting is to encourage residents to attend and to discuss the current fire danger across county lands and potential challenges later in the season.
Public Information Officer Vicki Shaffer said the county’s priority is providing information on mitigation, including controlled and agricultural burning.
“We are encouraging people to get their agricultural burns and debris burning done early but when the conditions are right, though we have had strong winds lately,” Shaffer said.
She said the county urges residents to create evacuation plans in advance, prepare plans for animals and livestock, put together a pack‑and‑go kit that lasts several days, and begin mitigation projects around their homes and yards to decrease burn risk.
Before burning debris or brush, residents are required to call Cortez Dispatch to report it and to check the forecast for unfavorable conditions such as high winds.
“Call first that way dispatch isn’t sending resources where they aren’t needed,” Shaffer said.
Commissioner Gerald Koppenhafer, who serves on the Southwestern Water Conservation District, provided an update on Colorado River water negotiations.
“We have been involved in some talks on the Colorado River,” he said at Tuesday’s commission meeting.
He noted the disagreeing lower and upper basin states are in a stalemate, which appears likely to force a decision from the Bureau of Reclamation.
“They can make decisions about water in the lower basin, but in the state of Colorado, I am not sure they have real authority to do that, other than pull from three reservoirs … Navajo, Flaming Gorge and Blue Mesa,” he said. He added that the situation may lead to “serious” pending litigation.
“There’s just not much water period anywhere in the west right now. As we can see by all the wildfires in different states,” Koppenhafer said. “It’s not going to be a good summer unless things change.”
Commissioner Kent Lindsay agreed, mentioning that thousands of acres are burning in Nebraska near the state border, and said those fires are pulling resources from Colorado.
“When you are out there, it is really dry and windy. Be careful for what you are doing with fire,” he said.
Tuesday’s meeting will include detailed information on prevention and safety, including current fire risk, presented by officials across county departments and agencies.
Expected attendees include the Montezuma County commissioners, Sheriff Steve Nowlin, Emergency Manager Jim Spratlen and fire professionals from the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service. Both agencies are conducting prescribed burns this week.
Topics include fire mitigation, risk reduction, current fire and weather conditions, home and property preparation, animal and human evacuation planning, agricultural burning regulations and creating defensible space.
“We will probably implement our fire ban sooner than later this year just trying to get ahead of this,” Commissioner Jim Candelaria said Tuesday.
The county also plans to hold a cleanup day, waiving tipping fees, to encourage mitigation.
Earlier this month, officials held a similar meeting to update residents, saying the wildfire season may come earlier this year and listing tips and resources to help residents prepare.
Residents may ask questions on the topic at the meeting. To learn more about countywide fire restrictions, visit https://montezumacounty.gov/fire‑restriction‑information.
During the fire season, the county shares important information on its website and Facebook page.
awatson@the‑journal.com
