Weather tames wildfire danger

But even an average season in Colorado still could produce about 3,000 blazes.

Recent wet weather is expected to tame, just slightly, Colorado’s wildfire season this year.

But officials reminded the public Tuesday that even an average year means about 3,000 wildfires for the state, and that conditions could still change in the next month.

“Early moisture can cause lush grass growth which later in the summer — which we’re expecting above-normal temperatures this summer — can dry out in a fairly short period of time when the humidity and the weather changes,” said Gov. John Hickenlooper at a news conference. “Then you’ve got really flash-prone fuel for lightning strikes and other forms of ignition.”

Officials said that in predicting an average or slightly below-average fire season, they considered recent precipitation, forecast temperatures and snowpack. But because of Colorado’s “heavy fuels,” officials said it takes more than one year of good moisture to make a noticeable change in fire danger.

Colorado is prepared, officials said, touting a consolidated agency and the state’s aerial firefighting fleet approved in 2014.

“It’s really proved to be a model of efficiency and effectiveness,” said Paul Cooke, recently retired director of the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control. “We are going to prevent some of the catastrophic wildland fires and hopefully prevent the loss of life to both civilians and firefighters.”

The new fleet and its technology has been able to move firefighters out of harm’s way, Cooke said.

In 2015, the state’s fleet was able to detect 40 fires that hadn’t yet been reported, provided surveillance for 32 large fires and went on five search-and-rescue missions.

The fleet, which includes helicopters, air tankers and high-tech single-engine aircraft outfitted to detect small fires, has gone on missions following bands of lightning looking for any fires as soon as they may have been ignited.

Officials also want Colorado residents to keep fire safety in mind, despite wet weather, asking that people do what they can to mitigate fire risks outside their homes and to prepare an evacuation plan. “Obviously, the opportunity to work on that is now,” Hickenlooper said.

Among the tips mentioned to prepare homes is to clear brush and other flammable materials from next to houses. “The first line of defense for a wildfire is the homeowner,” Cooke said. “When you’re not experiencing that wildfire, you do forget.”