Tipton, senators seeking U.S. land

Colorado’s U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and Cory Gardner are working with U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton on legislation to give about 4 acres of federal land to a remote southwest county so that it can build a new fire station.

Dolores County commissioners say a firehouse is needed along the West Fork of the Dolores River, where the nearest firefighters are some 26 miles away.

That distance has made it impossible for some area homeowners to get insurance and raised concerns about the potential for a wildfire to get out of control before crews could get to the scene.

“The facility will provide for a Forest Service staging area for response to forest fires, as well as equipment and trained firefighters to be first responders in a very remote area,” the county’s commissioners said in a letter to Congress.

Gardner and Tipton, both Republicans, have introduced a bill alongside Bennet, a Democrat, to hand over the U.S. Forest Service land for the new firehouse.

Tipton, who lives in Cortez, represents the area where the proposed firehouse would be built.

“Frequent and devastating wildfires have ravaged Western states, making it more vital than ever to ensure that every community is prepared for similar catastrophes,” Tipton said in a written statement. “Located on the border of the San Juan National Forest, Dolores County is in critical need of a fire station.”

The station would be on Dolores County Road 38 between the towns of Cortez and Rico.

The proposal comes as southwest Colorado is working to diversify its economy and seize on its outdoor recreation opportunities.

Dolores County has a population of about 2,000 people and borders Utah.