| Contacts: | Lynn Barclay: 970-826-5096 | |||
Big Ridge Fire (09-21-10)
Rangely, Colo. – The Big Ridge Fire was reported Monday at 5:30 p.m. The fire is located six miles south east of Rangely on Bureau of Land Management public land and estimated to be 37 acres. Rangely Rural Fire Protection District initially responded to the lightning caused incident but was unable to find access to the fire. Assigned to fight the fire are two 20-person hot shot crews and two helicopters. No structures are immediately threatened.
Fire danger is very high to extreme in all areas of northwest Colorado. Some recent incidents have been human caused related to unattended campfires and sparks from equipment or vehicles.
“It’s very dry out there and vegetation is ready to burn,” said Mark Rogers, Northwest Colorado Fire Management Officer. “The potential for rapid fire growth is extremely high.”
County, state and federal land managers are urging the public to be careful with all outdoor fires. A few reminders for safe fire use are:
*Do not light any fire on windy days and check the weather forecast
*Always have a shovel and water available when using fire outdoors
*Build campfires on bare soil and clear an area ten feet in diameter around campfire ring
*Never leave a campfire unattended, do so is a finable offense, and douse with water and dirt until cool to the touch
*Discard cigarettes and matches only when dead out and cold
*Don’t park in high grass or brush, hot tailpipes can cause fires
No fire restrictions are in effect in Rio Blanco, Moffat, Routt, Jackson and Grand counties. To report a wildfire call 911 or 970-826-5037.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs. The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends. In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
220 E Market Meeker, CO 81641