Last night, as I was checking on one of the country homes that I have listed, I found a cigarette butt on the ground. In the best of times, I would be unhappy about finding a cigarette butt, also known as someone else's trash, on the ground. Yet, I've seen or heard about way too many grass fires this year. Thus, I believe that people that are smoking outside and throwing cigarette butts on the ground are being extremely careless. To do so at someone else's home or ranch is..... I don't even know how I want to describe it. Unless you are my seller, the home owner, no smoking is allowed, even outside, at one of my listings unless you are in your vehicle.
Am I over reacting? No, I don't think so. After all, I am a real estate broker that specializes in rural properties, small farms and ranches in Colorado. I spend the majority of my time working outside of the Colorado Springs metro in El Paso county. This year we have very little moisture. In many areas, the grass has been extremely dry.
A spark, dry grass and the winds that are so common to this area creates the perfect conditions for a grass fire that takes off.
I've lost count of how many grass fires we have already had in El Paso County this year.
The largest so far occurred in late April. It started along Interstate 25, just south of Colorado Springs. According to news reports, it quickly consumed about 42,795 acres. The fire, called the Mile Marker 117 fire destroyed 23 residences, some outbuildings, burned vehicles and killed some pets and livestock. https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5753/
Earlier in April, the improper disposal of a cigeratte was blamed for a fire that consumed 386 acres off Highway 24 near Meridian Road. About 280 residences had to be evacuated. http://www.kktv.com/content/news/BREAKING-Brush-fire-off-of-Highway-24-478582893.html
Of course, cigarettes smokers can not be blamed for all of the grass fires we've had this year. Other notable fires this year March, 2018 in El Paso County, Co include: The Carson-Midway fire reportedly started on one Fort Carson's training ranges on March 16, 2018. It burnt about 3,300 acres. http://www.kktv.com/content/news/Live-fire-training-cause-of-Carson-Midway-Fire-says-Fort-Carson-477937833.html
On March 31, a fast moving in the Yoder area, just east of Colorado Springs, burned just over 1,000 acres. http://www.koaa.com/story/37849185/fast-moving-wildfire-quickly-contained-in-yoder
Elbert county, which is a few miles north of my listing where I found the cigarette butt on the ground, has also had problems with wildfires. The March 30 fire in Kiowa that burned 377 acres is an example. https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/wildfires/elbert-county-brush-fire-fully-contained-after-four-homes-destroyed/73-525302626
The fire danger is real....
So…. real estate agents, please request that your clients refrain from smoking while touring rural homes in areas where the fire danger is high. If you live in town, if you hear of people complaining about the lack of rain – that probably means that the fire danger is high.
Buyer prospects…. I love you, the buyer prospects. I want to you to feel at comfortable when looking at homes or land that you are considering purchasing. Yet, please make plans to not smoke outside of your vehicle at the rural properties that you are viewing. The risk of starting a fire is simply too high.
Although we had some rain in May, things have dried out again in El Paso County, Co. The fire danger is high enough that on Tuesday morning, June 5, 2018, the El Paso county sheriff ordered Phase II fire restrictions for all of the unincorporated areas of El Paso County, in other words the areas that fall outside city limits of Colorado Springs or the other small towns. Smoking outdoors is prohibited – you have to be in an enclosed vehicle or building.
In case you are wondering, what is restricted under the Stage II fire restrictions?
1. Outdoor cooking/fires on private property. This includes no burning trash in burn barrels. However, you are allowed to cook using a propane or gas grill. 2. Outdoor smoking. You need to be in an enclosed vehicle or building. 3. Campfires. 4. Public prescribed burning/burn permits.
5. The sale or use of fireworks.
For complete information from the official source go to: https://www.epcsheriffsoffice.com
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