Don’t let the date on the calendar fool you. It may be April, but weather conditions are bringing summer’s problems out early, and that includes dry conditions.
Golden Fire Rescue dealt with its first brush fire of the season last week when a man out with his dog dropped a cigarette near the Golden Airport at around 4:30 p.m. on April 5.
“We already knew that it was unseasonably dry,” said Fire Chief Dave Balding. “And now we have proof that it is.”
The fire spread at a high rate of speed, consuming about a quarter of an acre. However given that the man who dropped the cigarette witnessed the fire start, and called it in right away, the fire department arrived on scene very quickly.
“Had we gotten there later it could have consumed that entire parcel,” said Balding. “Fortunately it was only grass, and not near any structures.”
The department left the scene after an hour and a quarter, having made sure that the fire could not reignite.
Balding would like to remind residents that it’s always important to make sure you extinguish your smoking materials safely, regardless of time of year.
“Most fires are human caused,” he said. “We all need to be careful.”
