In light of windy conditions, low humidity and dry fuels, the National Weather Service out of Grand Junction issued a fire weather watch alert the afternoon of Wednesday, April 23.
The watch includes Southwest Colorado and a substantial area north of Telluride, in the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests.
The alert went out at 1:47 p.m., and the watch is in effect until Friday, April 25 at 8 p.m.
“Conditions will be right for rapid fire growth,” said Cortez Fire Battalion Chief Rick Spencer.
“We ask everyone to be extra cautious if they’re going to burn,” said Spencer.
It’s a fire weather watch and not a red flag day, so burning is technically still allowed – people are just asked to be “very cautious” if they burn the next few days. Burning on a red flag day is not authorized, said Spencer.
