The topic plaguing the minds of all community members this year has high and large been the lack of water in the Gunnison Basin and what that will look like as we approach the summer.
Wildfire season has already begun on the Western Slope and is set to peak around June. Locals, at a loss for what can be done, turn to officials to help calm nerves but more importantly to shed some light on what they can do to protect their land.
On Saturday morning, hundreds of Gunnison locals gathered at Fred Field to learn about wildfire mitigation.
The event, hosted by the Gunnison Conservation District and Colorado State University Extension Gunnison County and sponsored by the Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District, brought together wildfire professionals, land managers and community members to share practical knowledge about reducing wildfire risk in the area.
After a cup of coffee, things kicked off with opening remarks from the workshop’s organizers Tonya Carr, GCD Representative, and Hannah Cranor Kersting, a CSU extension agent. Speeches on mitigation, why it matters and what to expect post-fire followed from officials around the Western Slope.
Many patrons expressed concerns about evacuating their properties and the valley as a whole. There are only so many ways in and out of the Gunnison Basin. The advice given at this time is to make sure you’re signed up through the City for Gunnison regional alerts, which will notify residents of safety concerns, such as wildfires.
“We’re obviously really wildfire prone,” said Cranor Kersting. “We’re in extreme drought and the land is at risk. Our goal here is to help homeowners be prepared.”
Jim Ramirez, a retired US Forest fire fighter, and co-organizer of the workshop walked around the maze of informational booths, making sure all patrons were as informed as possible.
After a bit of concerned back-and-forth, patrons were released into the sea of stations and mini presentations. A medley of different organizations including: Cold Harbour, Gunnison Emergency Operations Center, West Region Wildfire Council, Dept. of Fire Prevention and Control, Gunnison Fire Dept., Crested Butte Fire Dept., Bureau of Land Management (U.S. Wildland Fire Service), Gunnison Dispatch, State and National Forest Service and the National Park Service were represented. The different organizations put on presentations regarding different forms of mitigation. The US Forest Service even gave a chainsaw safety demonstration.
“Areas burned in wildfires are projected to grow in Colorado in 2026,” said Retta Bruegger, CSU extension regional specialist.
What if fire comes through your land? Intervening is not always the answer, according to Bruegger. On the bright side, once land is burned, there is an opportunity to come out stronger. Animals prefer to graze on burned land as it’s higher in protein. Also, it’s an opportunity to plant native species, especially if your land has been overrun with invasive grasses.
“There are a lot of partnerships and enthusiasm,” said Carr, a former wildfire fighter. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to bring to the community.”
Carr has seen firsthand mitigation versus nonmitigation.
“It’s something that is very near and dear to me, and we’re hoping to continue every year,” he said
Countywide fire restrictions are still in discussion and the ultimate decision is left up to the county sheriff.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here