Chair Rock Fire

[Rabid]

2 new fires Bull Gulch near Canyon City and South Ranch near Walsenburg

[LippCJ7]

The big question here is, is this the new norm? Last year we experienced a fire season that lasted throughout the winter, can we really say, this is going to be a long summer?

As always Hoser, Outstanding work today! I can't tell you how much it means to us on the ground knowing you guys are are up there!

[Rabid]

The big question here is, is this the new norm? Last year we experienced a fire season that lasted throughout the winter, can we really say, this is going to be a long summer?

As always Hoser, Outstanding work today! I can't tell you how much it means to us on the ground knowing you guys are are up there!

Good question, i have read and talked with a few people that know a lot more about the subject then me. What i have learned is fires are very health things for the environment and technically they should not burn out an entire forest. Most important and first off we are in a huge drought that is the second worst in history with the dust bowl coming in first http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/product...db/lbfinal.gif Also we have not had a cold enough winter to kill off the pine beetles population and in turn they are now breading twice a year instead of only once http://www.dailycamera.com/cu-news/c...ing-twice-year the long horned beetles and gypsy moths have also had a population boom and they do damage to trees also. We have old forests that can not combat the infestation as well as young forests, all the above is why you see so many dead trees. From studies they have concluded that frequent fires run through the under brush and burn left over pine needles and shrubs but go through quick enough to leave the trees alone but we stop fires and let the under growth and fallen pine needles (fuel) grow. With all of the above factors we get what they call "super fires" in that everything burns and because it is so dry and there are so many dead trees it is going to happen more often.
In the 60's we clear cut 100's of acres of forest because mistletoe was killing the trees and more then likely stopped a huge fire from happening. We do not have the man power or money to do this anymore. Pretty much as long as we keep having warm and dry winters we are in it for the long haul.

[DSB OUTDOORS]

We are working it. 12,000 gallons so far.

Thanks Hoser! This one is just south of the one that had me on Pre-Evac. last year.

[LippCJ7]

Good question, i have read and talked with a few people that know a lot more about the subject then me. What i have learned is fires are very health things for the environment and technically they should not burn out an entire forest. Most important and first off we are in a huge drought that is the second worst in history with the dust bowl coming in first http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/product...db/lbfinal.gif Also we have not had a cold enough winter to kill off the pine beetles population and in turn they are now breading twice a year instead of only once http://www.dailycamera.com/cu-news/c...ing-twice-year the long horned beetles and gypsy moths have also had a population boom and they do damage to trees also. We have old forests that can not combat the infestation as well as young forests, all the above is why you see so many dead trees. From studies they have concluded that frequent fires run through the under brush and burn left over pine needles and shrubs but go through quick enough to leave the trees alone but we stop fires and let the under growth and fallen pine needles (fuel) grow. With all of the above factors we get what they call "super fires" in that everything burns and because it is so dry and there are so many dead trees it is going to happen more often.
In the 60's we clear cut 100's of acres of forest because mistletoe was killing the trees and more then likely stopped a huge fire from happening. We do not have the man power or money to do this anymore. Pretty much as long as we keep having warm and dry winters we are in it for the long haul.

Well done, it appears as though you did your own research and came up with a similar conclusion as I did.

[LippCJ7]

Hoser, were you on 9news today?

[BigDee]

The big question here is, is this the new norm? Last year we experienced a fire season that lasted throughout the winter, can we really say, this is going to be a long summer?

As always Hoser, Outstanding work today! I can't tell you how much it means to us on the ground knowing you guys are are up there!

We're Eastern California. Wildfires are part of the deal.

[Mtn.man]

When I was a kid we had Fire watch towers, then the FS did away with them. Now they depend on people that can't spot a fire or smoke till it is already going pretty good.
Also people have moved into areas of forest and DO no mitigation cause they like the woodsy feel.
Add years of drought, longer warm seasons, etc. BAM disaster.