Stack the pile of logs like a pyramid, to burn the largest pieces toward the bottom in the morning light, when the wind is calm. Keep burn piles small to reduce the risk of embers spreading and starting unintended fires.
Call Cortez dispatch and give neighbors a heads‑up. Check weather, humidity and wind conditions. Then carefully light your fire.
If there’s snow on the ground, you’re in luck.
“Brush it off, move it around, and if it’s a clean burn: don’t put trash in there,” joked Cortez Fire Protection District Chief Roy Wilkinson. “Get the hot dogs out and enjoy it.”
During this month’s Coffee with the County on Monday, local leaders focused on mitigation, safe debris burning, evacuation planning and emergency alerts.
The hands‑on advice for controlled burns is part of a broader message county officials are now pushing. Wildfire season might come early this year, and residents should start preparing.
Commissioners, the sheriff, fire officials and emergency manager Jim Spratlen advised residents to start preparations now, both to prevent human‑caused fires and to be ready if limited outside resources leave the county carrying more of the response load..
Officials say now is a good time to safely burn piles before the countywide fire ban is imposed.
“We haven’t set a hard and fast date because it may be earlier, maybe not,” Commissioner Jim Candelaria said, noting the county is considering implementing the ban by April 1 because of the lack of snowpack.
Sheriff Steve Nowlin said the office has already reminded people they are obligated by law to call dispatch before burning.
“The message is if you have debris that you are going to burn, plan ahead, contact the local office, contact me, and keep the pile small,” Nowlin said.
The fire chief said this makes responders aware of planned activity and also advised residents to pay close attention to weather conditions, inform nearby homes and keep piles manageable.
“Keep the pile below 8x8x8, but I think that’s still a little big,” Wilkinson said.
Nowlin said since burns can get out of hand quickly, residents should have firefighting equipment handy to ensure they can extinguish it.
Spratlen also warned about common burn‑related injuries.
“There’s been a lot of injuries lately,” he said, cautioning residents not to use accelerants. “Gasoline is a no‑no.”
County leaders said mitigation and prevention remain the most effective ways to limit wildfire impacts.
“With the state underfunded, we are potentially going to have a longer duration where we are responsible for these fires,” Candelaria said.
He said state agencies’ resources may be lacking because of the state’s billion‑dollar budget deficit.
“Well those agencies may not have those resources available yet, well, then we are on the hook for the costs,” Candelaria said. “These fires take millions of dollars in resources.”
Because of that possibility, officials are focusing on early messaging and community awareness, hoping to spread the information widely through word of mouth and through public service announcements. Another informational event is scheduled for March 24 from 6 to 8 p.m. Montezuma County Republicans are holding a series of seminars next month with wildlife and emergency personnel focused on reading weather forecasts, preparing go‑kits, evacuation planning and wildfire mitigation.
Emergency officials also spoke about evacuation planning and the challenges of responding to large wildfires in rural areas.
“Our issue is there are numerous lightning strikes and then you just have to get out,” Spratlen said.
Spratlen said the county has volunteers trained to assist evacuees, as well as to help residents shelter pets and livestock during a crisis.
“We have a community emergency response team. They are underneath the sheriff with his approval and then we have a CART team, community animal response team,” he said.
Barns and facilities, such as the Montezuma County Fairgrounds, may be used during emergencies, though owners are responsible for feeding their animals.
The sheriff emphasized preparing supplies ahead of time, including having at least five gallons of water and generators on standby.
Any information or updates on a fire ban are posted on the county website: https://montezumacounty.gov/fire-restriction-information/.
County officials are encouraging residents to create a personal action plan to manage communication with family members. The “Ready, Set, Go!” handout is for families to prepare a disaster plan, assemble emergency kits and provide tips for thinking ahead and acting during emergencies.
awatson@the‑journal.com
