Official Says Fire Season Underway Early

Laramie County Fire District #2 spokesman Lew Simpson says it appears that the local fire season is underway early, and could be worse than last year.

Simpson says a grass fire Sunday night that torched about 20 acres near the Cheyenne Hills Church is not a good sign, adding the local fire season usually doesn't get underway until May or June. But he says the recent dry, windy conditions in early spring don't bode well for the fire season, which he says potentially could get much worse in a couple of months if current weather patterns continue.

Simpson is urging people to be extra careful with fire, having water on hand near any controlled burns and avoiding starting any kind of fire on windy days. Simpson is also asking people to report controlled burns to the dispatch center at 637-6410.