Remembering the Snyder Fire heroes | From the Newsroom

Gold Mountain Fire pushes more evacuations; county honors country's 250th birthday

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It's bad out there If you've stuck your head outside, you know: there is heavy smoke and poor air quality. How poor? The Air Quality Index placed Montrose at "unhealthy" as of 11 Monday morning. We're at 174; fior reference, "good" air quality is 50 or under. The Gold Mountain Fire is the one burning closest to Montrose, and parts of the county are on pre-evaucation or voluntary evacuation status. Elsewhere, the Ferris Fire in Dolores and Montezuma counties is also contributing to our poor air quality. In Mesa County/Utah line, the Snyder Fire claimed the lives of three firefighters and injured two. Near Pueblo, the Aspen Acres Fire was pushing 90,000 acres. Here's where I get a bit preachy, but ...  Do not stray into closure areas. Resources are already spread thin in this ongoing emergency; nobody should be forced to navigate a wildfire while trying to rescue you.  Do not fly your drone over where the fires are burning. It interferes with firefighting aircraft, and is just not a cool thing to do. For goodness' sake, do not set anything on fire - not trash, not a marshmallow, not a tiki torch. Do consider having an emergency kit ready in case where you live suddenly comes under an evacuation order. At present, that is unlikely in town, but it isn't unlikely everywhere, most notably today, in parts of Gunnison County, where an alert informed folks of a life-threatening situation.  Don't wait. Pack your essentials: hygiene items, important documents like home insurance and IDs, medications, phone charger, water, food, pet food/supplies, and have both crate and harness/leash at the ready for cats and dogs. Pack the sentimental items, if you've got room. Take pictures of what you are leaving behind; this can help if, in the worst case scenario, you must file an insurance claim. You can find kit tips at ready.gov/kit Sign up for emergency alerts in Montrose County HERE Gold Mountain Fire info HERE Stay safe — Katharhynn, From the Newsroom.

Fallen firefighters honored at memorial service The last stanza of the Firefighter Prayer reads, “And if, according to your will/In my duty I must answer death’s call/Bless with your protecting hand/My family one and all.” Read More Years on, remaining Sunset Mesa Funeral Directors civil cases at standstill as plaintiffs try for federal records Attorneys for multiple defendants in two civil cases against Megan Hess and Sunset Mesa Funeral Directors are still seeking federal records they need, but are not having any luck in getting, even after involving U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd’s office. Read More 'The miracle called America' : County honors nation's 250th anniversary The red, white and blue bunting draped above the historic Montrose County courthouse Wednesday morning was a welcome distraction from curtains of wildfire smoke hanging from the sky. The words spoken beneath it were even more meaningful: they recognized and… Read More

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