Southern Park County Fire & EMS

09/07/2026

This weekend has exemplified the importance of team work with our surrounding agencies!

Last night we were dispatched, along side with Four Mile Fire Protection District and Tallahassee Fire Protection District and BLM for a smoke report in a very tricky to navigate and remote area. Crews searched for hours and couldn’t find EXACTLY where it was. Crews from all three agencies reassembled early this morning with more back country resources and were finally able to directly attack the fire. During these efforts and with it being a holiday weekend, other additional calls came out for these agencies. Not only did these agencies continue to work on the fire with a Type 1 bucket ship but we also responded to each other’s calls to serve one another’s communities.

We cannot thank their crews, our crews, communications at all four communication centers and our communities for the cooperation, patience and support.

09/05/2026

As a fire district, we strive to provide direct attack response to keep the size of the incident small.

Direct Attack is when fire fighters are fighting fire on the fire’s edge. This is usually with wildland engines with water tanks and wildland fire fighters with hand tools. In hard to reach or remote areas, fire fighters will carry in 5-gallon capacity water backpacks with pump sprayers to fight the fire. Direct attack on the fires edge is the most effective way to put out a fire quickly.

Indirect line is used when fire behavior is too erratic to predict and it threatens the safety of the fire fighters and resources on a fire. Indirect attack strategy is where resources move away from the fire to a natural break in trees and grass. Whether this be geographical features like a riverbed, or a meadow, or a man-made break such as a road or a large field with minimal vegetation. Indirect attack is reserved for extreme fire behavior or when fire fighter safety will be jeopardy.

09/01/2026

Have you ever wondered what the different uses are for handline and dozer line is on a Wildland Fire?

Handline is constructed by fire fighters with hand tools called a Rogue Hoe or Pulaksi, like in the picture below. This is the most common way fire fighters will contain the fire to a specific area. They use the tools to scrape surface material away exposing bare mineral soil so that the fire has nothing to burn in that area.

Dozer Line is put in by heavy equipment, usually bulldozers, skid steers and other heavy equipment. The principal is the same as handline but on a much larger scale. Dozer line is primarily used to protect subdivisions, towns and major areas of interest. Dozer line causes large natural resource damage including archeologically, geographically and can even affect water sheds that are in the area. Federal resources will use Dozer line on a fire after consulting with leaders from all aspects. Our district does not utilize this tactic and currently don't have access to those resources.

08/27/2026

Effective today at 12 pm, 8/27/2026, Park County Sheriff has rescinded ALL burn restrictions for the county. If we do not receive continued rain, we will go back to a Stage 1. Please use safe burning practices! This includes having a shovel, water hose and or fire extinguisher within your immediate area while burning, doing hot work or other activities that could cause a fire.

As of 12:00 P.M. on August 27, 2026, Sheriff Tom McGraw has lifted both Stage 1 and Stage 2 fire ban restrictions in Park County.

At this time, there are no additional fire restrictions in place. However, individual fire districts have the authority to implement their own fire restrictions if conditions change. If you are planning to have a fire, camp, or participate in recreational shooting, please check with the fire district responsible for that area for the most current information.

Stay safe, stay informed, and help us protect our communities and public lands.

08/19/2026

Our community has been given the opportunity to participate in this slash drop off event! Please see the flyer for locations, dates, times and restrictions on what can be dropped off. If you have any questions please reach out, if we don’t have the immediate answer, we will get you in touch with someone who can answer them!

08/16/2026

“It’s rained a lot over the last couple weeks, so why the fire ban still?”
Great question—and here’s an illustrated answer!

If you look closely at this picture from the fire off Highway 9 the other day, you’ll see why. It was even raining while we were fighting this fire!

Above the red line is where the fire was burning in what’s called pine duff—dead pine needles, dry pine cones and dead grass.

Between the red and yellow lines, it’s bone dry. This area was protected by the tree branches.

Below the yellow line is the bare soil that the rain fell on that night, which is still relatively dry even though it was raining.

Underneath the material that gets wet when it rains is still VERY dry and combustible. This is due to the lack of prolonged precipitation not just how much rain we’ve received.

So, if the top is wet but underneath is dry, doesn’t that moisture help suppress and stop the fire?

Yes and no. It slows how quickly the fire spreads, but it’s not wet enough to put the fire out. The moisture evaporates faster than it can provide any fire stopping measures.

Hope this helps explain why we’re still in a fire ban!

08/15/2026

Last night our crews responded to two back to back lightning strike calls. One on Highway 9 and the other on the SPCFPD/Tallahassee districts line.

Both tree fires were extinguished and mitigated quickly with great team work from all agencies!

We want to thank all of our partners that responded and willing to come help. Our agency greatly appreciates their support and efforts!

Hartsel Fire Protection District Lake George Fire Protection District Tallahassee Fire Protection District

08/14/2026

*** Update as of 7:35 Fire is contained, crews will monitor tonight and into tomorrow*****

Crews are responding to a single tree lightning strike in the area of Highway 9 MM20 please avoid the area.

Per IC on scene single tree and is not spreading at this time.

08/10/2026

Hello Guffey!

We’ve had an increase of bear activity within the last couple weeks in the district. Unfortunately, due to the drought, they’ve had to utilize more human resources for food.

Please do your part to deter these amazing creatures from becoming dependent on human presence.

Pull in humming bird feeders at night.

Place bird seed feeders high enough where bears can’t reach them easily.

Store your garbage in an enclosed building until the morning of trash pick up day.

If you encounter a bear, make yourself large, talk loud and slowly back away. DO NOT RUN!

If a bear enters your home, call 911, open doors and windows without getting close to the bear, making sure it can get out the same way it came in.
Do not block or corner the bear.

For more information on how to co exist with these and other wildlife click the link below!

The key to avoiding problem wildlife encounters is keeping unwanted wildlife out of homes, buildings, yards and vehicles.