Letter to the Editor
Do What You can to Protect Yourself From Fire As you drive around Colorado City and Rye, observe how many homes are at risk of being destroyed by fire because owners have not provided a “Wildfire Defensible Zone” around their property. You should realize you DO NOT have to live in a forest to suffer from a wildfire. On February 26, 2024, the Smokehouse Creek Fire ignited in Hutchinson County, Texas and quickly burned more than 1 million acres. This was in prairie country, NOT the forest and destroyed over 800 structures and killed thousands of livestock.
For guidance on how to protect your property, go to: extension. colostate.edu. > Publications. > Under Natural Resources, click on Wildfire and Forestry I’m going to have to back off with my personal attempts to control coyote gourd and several species of thistle in the area. Not controlling it now will come back to bite you. I started spraying in 2018 and from 2019 to 2023, I sprayed gourds from the visitor center to the Catholic Church in Rye. The area around the library and athletic fields look much better but will regress if the Metro does’t step up. There are certain areas along 165 that need immediate attention. Calls to CDOT in Pueblo asking them to spray along hwy. 165 might generate a response. Can you look out your window at home and see gourds or thistle? How about doing your part and cut them down before they drop seed?
Bob Smith Colorado City
Letters must contain appropriate language and focus on issues rather than individuals, must be signed and no longer than 350 words in length. Limit two letters per month per writer. The View editorial staff reserves the right not to publish any letter deemed offensive, or malicious. Submit letters to: editor@greenhornvalleyview. com
