CHAFFEE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

Salida, Colorado

PRESS RELEASE

April 25, 2020

On this date at 11:11 hours the Chaffee County Communications Center received a call of a grass fire approximately 2 miles west of Poncha Springs.

Members of the Chaffee Fire District, South Ark Fire District as well as the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office and the Colorado State Patrol responded.

When firefighters arrived they encountered a grass fire that was burning rapidly due to wind in the area. Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze with no structures being damaged.

Sheriff personnel cited Michael Johnson, age 61, from Poncha Springs for Violation of the Stage 2 Fire Restrictions as it was determined that Johnson shot an exploding target that ignited the blaze.

Size of the grass fire was estimated at 7 acres.

At 14:16 hours Chaffee Fire along with South Ark fire responded to a field east of Hwy 285 and County Road 270 on another grass fire.

Firefighters had a very fast response and were able to control the blaze after it burnt approximately 23 acres.

Personnel on scene determined that the fire started after a landowner using a brush hog hit a rock causing a spark that ignited the fire.

No Citations were issued in this incident.

*****Chaffee County Sheriff John Spezze*****