BLM and Eagle County Sheriff's Office seek information about Cottonwood Pass Fire
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SILT, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management and the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office are seeking information about the cause of Sunday’s fire near Cottonwood Pass in Eagle County.
Investigators believe the fire was ignited early Sunday afternoon by people shooting exploding targets in dry grass near Spring Gulch off the Cottonwood Pass Road. A number of people were recreating in the area at the time and may have information useful to investigators.
If you think you may have any information that would be useful to investigators, please call the Eagle County Sheriff's Office at (970) 328-8500 or Eagle County Crime Stoppers at 970-328-7007, 1-800-972-TIPS, submit your tip online at www.tipsubmit.com, or text a tip from your cell phone by texting STOPCRIME plus your message to CRIMES (274637). If your tip leads to the arrest and indictment of any suspect involved, you could earn up to a $1,000 reward from Crime Stoppers.
People whose actions result in wildfires can be held liable for the cost of suppressing the fire, regardless of whether the fire was intentional.
A rapid response from more than 40 local and federal firefighters on Sunday along with assistance from a single engine air tanker kept the fire to about five acres of BLM-managed land. Responders included the federal Upper Colorado Interagency Fire Management Unit, Gypsum Fire, Greater Eagle Fire, Eagle River Fire, Vail Fire, Eagle County Sheriff’s Office and Eagle County Paramedics.
“We’re at the point of the season where most grasses have dried and will carry fire, even with the wet summer we’ve had,” said Acting BLM Colorado River Valley Field Manager Karl Mendonca. “We are seeing an increase in fire danger and are reminding the public to use caution when recreating or working outside.”
Precautions include making sure campfires are dead-out before leaving camp, ensuring chainsaws and other equipment retain their spark arresters, and avoiding parking or shooting in dry grass.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.