Pueblo, CO…Temperatures may be getting cooler, monsoonal rains have come and gone, and it may seem that fire season is winding down. However, the 7 ½ acre Waldo Canyon wildfire east of Cascade in El Paso county was a strong reminder that it’s not. According to Pike & San Isabel National Forests, Cimarron & Comanche National Grasslands (PSICC) fire management officer Ted Moore, “normally about one third of the fires that occur during fire season happen at this time of year.”

Public land managers everywhere agree that now is not the time to let your guard down. Landowners living next to or near public lands need to look at the defensibility of their property. “Too often people think, ‘how defensible is my home?’ as a wildland fire burns in close proximity,” remarked Moore. “At that point, there isn’t much that can be done other than hope the fire can be contained before reaching the property.” So, why wait? We always hear “Fall is for planting” but it is also a good time for planning and working on defensible space. There are many resources to draw from for advice. Folks can contact a local Colorado State Forest Service office or go to their website at www.colostate.edu/Depts/CSFS/FWeducators.htm, a local rural fire department, or go online to www.firewise.org.

So remember, fire season is not over. The fire danger level is currently moderate to the west and high to the east. Whether moderate or high, grasses are tall and dry and there is a lot of dead woody debris out there. The public is encouraged to continue to be careful with campfires, making sure they are put completely out before leaving the area.