Gov. Bill Owens has authorized about $1.6 million in state disaster emergency funds to pay for the preparations by Colorado emergency officials.
``Despite the March blizzard, some three-fourths of the state is still in extreme drought condition,'' Owens said Thursday. ``Colorado is ready to respond when wildfire strikes as it will strike us again this spring and summer.''
After three years of drought, the fire risk remains high across much of Colorado. The wildfire season is expected to start by late June or early July this year, fire experts say, compared with an April start last year.
Nationwide, the 2003 wildfire season will not be as severe as last year, but much of the West and upper Midwest will still see an above-normal fire year, according to predictions by the National Interagency Fire Center.
Agency spokesman Don Smurthwaite said the fire center expects to have about 30 heavy air tankers available nationwide this summer.
Fire forecasters say years of drought in the West coupled with little snow and early snowmelts could result in an extended fire season. They said drought-stressed or insect-damaged vegetation will increase the potential for large, destructive wildfires.
National forests in Colorado are ``overstocked and overgrown and, when you're in a drought, there's not enough moisture to keep those trees healthy,'' said U.S. Forest Service Regional Forester Rick Cables.
State and federal agencies are planning large prescribed burns and other treatments to clear out dead trees, brush and other debris.
The 2002 wildfire season was the most destructive in Colorado history, with more than 4,600 fires that burned 915,000 acres. Nine firefighters were killed and at least 235 homes were destroyed.
With the emergency funds, state officials will have three contracted single-engine air tankers, each capable of dropping 800 gallons of fire retardant, based at three airports, Owens said. Two additional single-engine tankers will be based elsewhere in the state.
Last year was the first time the state had tankers ready to fly on quick notice. The plan allows for a tanker to be in the air in as little as 30 minutes, while previously it could take up to 24 hours to sign a contract for the service, Owens said.
The money also will support 10 fire engines that the state bought this year for $10 million.
