Grassfire north of Salida Airport was brought under control. Photo by Corey Johns.
3/2/24 9:00 p.m.
Update: The grassfire was brought under control and crews remained on the scene to ensure that no hot spots remained. Emergency crews asked Johns to leave the area shortly after they arrived.
With the major winter storm across the entire area of Chaffee County, a few inches of snow has put out the fire, which is reported to have burned 15-20 acres of land, but no structures.
THIS IS A DEVELOPING NEWS STORY. MORE UPDATES TO COME.
A grass fire erupted on the land somewhere south of the Salida Airport on Saturday afternoon, March 2.
Photo of the grass fire in Chaffee County north of the city of Salida, taken at 4:06 p.m. by Sandy Hobbs.
Buena Vista resident Corey Johns spotted smoke from his position driving back into Chaffee County down over Poncha Pass. Driving down off the pass, he told Ark Valley Voice that he went directly to the Chaffee County Fairgrounds.
He arrived just as about 15 to 20 other Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office and emergency response vehicles also arrived at the county fairgrounds.
Emergency response vehicles arrived in the area of the grass fire on March 2, 2024.
“I could see the smoke from on top of Poncha Pass. There’s a red-flag warning and I can’t exactly tell how large it is — looks right now like a 50 to 100 acres fire heading toward Salida and the airport.”
“I can tell you it looks like a heck of a grass fire heading right toward Salida,” said Johns, who noted that the smoke made it hard to gauge the size.
Emergency crews report that the fire was brought under control and the burn area was around 15-20 acres.
A grass fire so early in the year, while we are still in the winter snow season, is another indication of our changing reality in the Colorado high country. Our fire season now stretches all year long.
“I can tell you it looks like a heck of a grass fire heading right toward Salida,” said Johns.
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