Office of Emergency Management

Office of Emergency Management

Scott Morrill

Emergency Manager

The Emergency Management Department continually updates and exercises the County Emergency Operations Plan, utilizing an all-hazards approach in preparing for emergencies/disasters. This includes maintenance of the communications plan, ensuring complete interoperability between all agencies during an incident. The Department also provides training, exercises and mitigation plans in preparation for and response to emergencies; maintains resource lists for use during an emergency, identifying and allocating resources from local, State and private sources; facilitates and updates Mutual Aid Agreements and Intergovernmental Agreements between agencies/jurisdictions, both within Gunnison County and on a regional basis; and locates, writes and manages appropriate grants.

Flood Preparations

For helpful information related to the expected Spring run-off, including flood insurance and other preparations that your family may want to consider, please visit our Preparedness section.

Avalanche Information

For helpful avalanche information, please visit the Colorado Avalanche Information Center website.

Wildfire Information

Montrose Interagency Fire Management Unit

Burn Ordinance

If you are going to burn ditches, fields, slash piles, leaves or other organic material, you must first call the Gunnison Communications Center at 641-8200, option 1. The dispatcher will advise you as to whether a Red Flag Warning (no burning) has been issued. If burning is permitted the dispatcher will ask for your name, address/location of the burn, and your phone number. You will be asked to call Gunnison Communications and advise them when the burn is out. Burning during a Red Flag Warning, failure to notify the Communications Center or leaving a fire unattended can result in a ticket being issued, and fines imposed. Either of these two situations also increases personal liability, should the fire get out of control and/or damage other property. Open burning is not permitted in the Towns of Crested Butte, Mt Crested Butte or the City of Gunnison. For further information in the Gunnison area, contact Fire Marshal Dennis Spritzer at 641-8153 or dennis@cityofgunnison-co.gov, and for the Crested Butte area, contact Crested Butte Fire Chief Ric Ems at 349-5333 or rems@crestedbutte.net.

If you plan on doing any type of open burning in Gunnison County, please observe and follow these guidelines:

1. Notify the Gunnison Communications Center at 641-8200, option 1. The dispatcher will need to know the location, size, and approximate start and finish times of the burn, as well as your phone number – preferably a cell phone. If a Red Flag Warning in effect or anticipated, the dispatcher will advise you of that, and you will not be allowed to burn. Failure to notify the Communications Center could result in the Fire Department arriving at your burn, should someone call it in as an actual fire. This could result in a summons and a fine up to $500.00
2. You will also be required to call Gunnison Communications and advise them when the burn is extinguished.
3. Plan your burn for the early morning hours, 6:00 AM – 9:00 AM, or later in the evening after 6:00 PM, when the winds are generally calmer. Check local weather conditions and forecasts prior to starting your burn, paying special attention to wind conditions.
4. Ensure that there is an adequate water supply, and that you can reach the perimeter of the burn area. Wet down and/or mow the perimeter of your burn area to keep the fire from getting out of the planned burn area.
5. If you are burning a large area, it is best to burn in small sections, lighting and maintaining only one section at a time.
6. It is always best to have someone help you with your burn – never burn alone. Ensure there are no structures, or vehicles within 50 feet of the burn area.
7. If your burn gets out of control, call 9-1-1 immediately. Any delay in calling 9-1-1 only causes the problem to get worse, potentially threatening lives and property.
8. Remember, if your burn gets out of control and damages others property, you could be held civilly liable, and possibly receive a summons with fines. Failure to notify Gunnison Communications of your burn, burning during a Red Flag Warning or leaving the burn unattended can also result in a summons and fines.
9. Open burning is not permitted in the Towns of Crested Butte, Mt Crested Butte or the City of Gunnison.
10. For further information in the Gunnison area, contact Gunnison Fire Marshal Dennis Spritzer at 641-8153 or dennis@cityofgunnison-co.gov and for the Crested Butte area, contact Crested Butte Fire Chief Ric Ems at 349-5333 or rems@crestedbutte.net.

Office Staff

Contact Information