Thursday’s high winds brought the potential for wild fires around parts of the metro.
Wind gusts reached from 50 to 75 mph around the foothills. The record-breaking 71 degree weather added to the potential for fires.
“The typical fire season used to be more summertime,” said Brendan Finnegan, a Lieutenant for the West Metro Fire Departments' Wildland Unit, “but as we’ve seen over the years, we have to be prepared for fire seasons at all times."
An extreme fire danger was issued for areas around Morrison.
With much of the snow around the front range now gone, the ground left behind is dry, adding to the potential of fires.
“Even from crossing from one side of the highway to the other to get our fire engines in place to begin initial attack the fire can grow from, you know, 100 square feet to, you know, an acre within minutes,” said Finnegan, “and once you align it with the terrain and the hillsides around here along the foothills those fires will grow and spread rapidly."
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