Montezuma County Hosts Wildfire Meeting as Officials Warn of Early Season

Thousands of acres are burning in Nebraska near the Colorado state border, and Commissioner Kent Lindsay says those fires are already pulling resources away from the region. That pressure is part of why Montezuma County officials, Sheriff Steve Nowlin, and Emergency Manager Jim Spratlen are gathering at 109 W. Main St. in Cortez on Tuesday, March 24, to brief residents on what's coming.

The Community Wildfire Information Meeting runs from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Board of County Commissioners' second-floor meeting room. Fire professionals from both the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service are expected to attend, with both agencies actively conducting prescribed burns this week, moving fire through Gambel oak and mixed conifer stands on lands managed by the San Juan National Forest to reduce the potential for more severe, large-scale events later in the season.

Lindsay's warning about conditions on the ground is blunt: "When you are out there, it is really dry and windy. Be careful for what you are doing with fire."

County Public Information Officer Vicki Shaffer has been pushing a similar message since at least February, when county officials began urging early planning. "We are encouraging people to get their agricultural burns and debris burning done early but when the conditions are right, though we have had strong winds lately," Shaffer said. The county's priority, she noted, is getting mitigation information out before conditions deteriorate further.

Tuesday's meeting will cover current fire danger levels, the status of controlled and agricultural burns across county lands, what to expect during peak fire season, and whether an early burn restriction or fire ban may be on the table. No formal ban has been announced, but officials have flagged the possibility. Homeowners will also hear practical guidance on creating defensible space and protecting property before the season peaks.

The meeting includes a Q&A block, giving residents direct access to fire professionals from federal agencies and county departments. Forecasts are pointing toward a potentially widespread wildfire season across the region, and organizers have framed the message plainly: even one spark can lead to a major fire, and preparation now can make a meaningful difference later.