Wetmore Volunteer Fire Department

06/18/2026

US Forest Service and Wetmore VFD firefighters on the Bigelow Fire, Hwy 165, on June 17, 2026.

06/18/2026

Wetmore volunteers rolled out around 4 p.m. today and worked four hours alongside Forest Service firefighters on the Bigelow Fire, on the north side of Bigelow Divide, off CO 165.

The fire is believed to have been started by a tree contacting power lines.

Custer Co. Road & Bridge kept us all supplied with water.

06/16/2026

Some of your Wetmore volunteers were up early on Saturday, 6/13, to take the "pack test," part of wildland-firefighting certification. They walked 3 miles in 45 minutes or less carrying a 40-pound load. The group included Peter Maloney, April Maloney, CJ Jahn, Will Richer, Charlie Avila, and Johnny Eisert, here seen on CR 298 approaching the finish line.

06/05/2026

We regret that we had to delay so many "rush hour" motorists, but the damaged car and emergency vehicles were blocking the uphill (west-bound) lane for a time.

05/30/2026

Please note the updated procedure for controlled burns!

Planning a controlled burn? We’ve made the process simple and accessible for Fremont and Custer County residents!

You can now apply for burn permits online and register your controlled burns quickly using the QR code or website listed below. Before burning, be sure to check if conditions allow for safe burning that day.

Please remember: permits help keep our community safe by reducing the risk of wildfires and ensuring emergency services are aware of authorized burns in the area.

Stay safe, burn responsibly, and always follow local burn regulations.

05/30/2026

We are certainly thankful for the much-needed rain. Sheriff Smith and Fire Chief Coleman met this morning to temporarily allow burns through Sunday evening. All of the other fire restrictions remain in place.

If you need to do a burn, use our new online portal to apply for your burn permit. https://fremontcustercounty.burnpermits.com/

04/22/2026

Custer County will be under a **Red Flag Warning** warning tomorrow (Wednesday April 22), and this is not a typical event. The National Weather Service has designated this as a **“Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS)”**—a rare classification used for the most extreme fire conditions. This is expected between 2PM and 7PM. We believe this PDS event is the first time it has ever been issued in Colorado.

This warning automatically triggers our **highest level of fire restrictions**: **NO burning of any kind.** Conditions are critical, and even a small spark—from chainsaws, driving through dry grass, welding, or other activities—could quickly turn into a fast-moving wildfire. We cannot afford preventable mistakes.

**What you should do now:**
Take time tonight to prepare in case evacuation becomes necessary. Decide what you will take, gather essential items, and make a plan with your family. Secure loose objects around your property, as wind gusts up to 50 mph are expected. Move any flammable materials away from your home.

**What your county is doing:**
County officials met this evening via phone to coordinate response efforts. The Sheriff’s Office will have deputies and volunteer posse members actively patrolling for smoke and reporting precise locations to fire crews.

Custer County Road & Bridge will have all four water tenders filled and ready for immediate response.

Wet Mountain FPD will have four personnel staged at the station and an additional four firefighters on standby for rapid deployment.

**Emergency Alerts:**
If you are not already signed up for Everbridge, please do so tonight or first thing in the morning. This system allows us to send emergency notifications, including evacuation orders, directly to you.

Sign up here: https://member.everbridge.net/355009111785665/login
Scroll down and click **CREATE ACCOUNT** to add your phone numbers, email, and text alerts.

Stay alert, stay prepared, and help us keep Custer County safe.

04/21/2026

Small grass fire extinguished about 1 a.m. today at the top of Jackson Hill on CO 96. Cause unknown, but it was adjacent to the highway

04/20/2026

We were there too. Photo in comment.

Emergency crews responded to two separate motorcycle crashes this afternoon near the S-curves on Highway 96 between mile markers 17 and 18.

Deputies were finishing up impounding a corvette and issuing a summons to a reckless driver who was traveling 104 MPH near mile marker 16 when a motorcyclist approached them to report the first crash. Deputies immediately responded, and while on scene, another rider notified them of a second crash in the same area.

Custer EMS and a medical helicopter from Colorado Springs were requested to respond.

While waiting for an additional ambulance, deputies assisted one of the injured riders by applying a splint to a broken ankle. During the process, deputies had to cut open the rider’s pant leg and discovered significant wounds. The rider advised those injuries were from a previous motorcycle crash last week.

Fortunately, both riders were wearing helmets and protective gear, which helped limit the severity of their injuries.

As we move into warmer weather, motorcycle traffic increases significantly—especially on weekends. We ask all motorists and riders to slow down, stay alert, and watch for motorcycles on our roadways. Riders are encouraged to wear proper protective gear and ride within their limits. A little extra caution can prevent serious injuries.