Wildfire officials are concerned that this is going to be bad a year for fires in Colorado.
Typically by April we average less than 10 wildfires. This year we have seen six times that number with 55 fires reported to date.
"Places that you normally wouldn't think we'd have wildfires, we've had fires already this year. Thats one thing we're concerned about. We need the public to be on their best behavior and on guard," said Larry Helmerick of the Rocky Mountain Coordination Center.
The fire danger forecast through June 1 calls for an above average threat of wildfires across all of eastern Colorado, including the foothills, the Interstate 25 Urban Corridor and the Denver metro area.
Much of southern and southwest Colorado are also in the above average threat.
The north-central mountains have a below average threat for wildfires over the next six weeks, and the rest of the state has equal chances.
A day with weather conditions like we saw on Monday is prime for the development of explosive fires. The very warm temperatures, strong gusty winds, and extremely low relative humidity all combine to make for a potentially dangerous situation.
The state forest service has a single engine air tanker in Jefferson County that is ready to respond to any fires that develop.
More than two dozen new employees have been added to the management team at the Rocky Mountain Coordination Center to help react to any fire outbreaks.
All but one fire in Colorado so far this year has been human caused. Fire officials are urging everyone to make sure that you extinguish any potential fire hazard, such as campfires and cigarette butts.
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