A brush fire put people in the midvalley on edge briefly on Wednesday since it was coming on the one-year anniversary of the Lake Christine Fire.<\/p>\n
Emergency dispatchers paged Roaring Fork Fire Rescue at 2:42 p.m. when a traveler on Highway 82 saw a fire \u201cabout the size of a tire.\u201d It was reported in grassland on the north side of Highway 82, downvalley from the Old Snowmass Conoco.<\/p>\n
When firefighters arrived minutes later, it had grown to about 15 feet wide and 50 feet long, said Terry Cox, a division chief.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was moving slow but it had potential,\u201d Cox said. \u201cThe wind was picking up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Firefighters responded with a couple of engines and knocked the fire down with no problems. No structures were threatened, Cox said.<\/p>\n
The cause was believed to be a spark produced by a vehicle safety chain that was dragging, according to Cox. The chain ran from a vehicle to a boat trailer, authorities said.<\/p>\n
Fire Chief Scott Thompson said the incident shows the potential for problems and the need for vigilance to watch any potential source for a fire. There may be a false sense of security with the amount of precipitation this year, but the sun and wind dry out vegetation fast, the firefighters said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt may look green but we\u2019ve hit that critical place where we\u2019re hitting high fire danger,\u201d Thompson said.<\/p>\n
Basalt has an ordinance in place that makes it illegal to sell, possess or use any fireworks within the town limits from Memorial Day through Labor Day.<\/p>\n
Thompson urged valley residents, regardless of where they reside, to not shoot off fireworks for Fourth of July.<\/p>\n
\u201cSave them for New Year\u2019s,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n