Local officials, activists, sheriff, all warned of wildfire risk ahead of Schwachheim Fire, as concerns grow for upcoming live-fire Army training at Piñon Canyon

Less than one week before the Schwachheim Fire burned over 1,000 acres (and still counting) on Apr. 12–15, Las Animas County officials held a regular meeting back on Apr. 7, with a heavy focus on wildfire concerns as the large-scale U.S. Army training exercise, the "Ivy Mass" operation, at Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site was set for May.Aside from County officials discussing the risks during their recent meeting, they also sent a letter dated Mar. 27 to U.S. Army officials expressing their concerns about wildfire risks, particularly regarding live-fire training. The Chronicle-News reached out to Fort Carson Officials, who stated on Apr. 15 that they are tentatively planning an Ivy Mass media roundtable later this month, when leadership will be able to address training and fire mitigation. "The Board of County Commissioners recommends that the Army consider additional mitigation measures or, if conditions warrant, explore alternatives that maintain training value while minimizing risk of potential wildfires," LAC officials said in the March letter.County officials were not alone in their worries, however, with one of the leading voices during the early 2000s for the coalition protest against Piñon Canyon's expansion, Doug Holdread, taking to the LAC Courthouse to urge county officials to push for a delay of live-fire activities, citing extreme drought conditions and heightened wildfire danger, just around five days before the Schwachheim Fire sparked near Lake Dorothy on the Colorado side of the New Mexico border. Holdread called the lack of snowfall and warm weather during the most recent winter season "unusual" and how it created hazardous fire conditions. "We have another unusual situation—and that is a very different and intensified kind of training at Piñon Canyon," Holdread said. "It's a very large-scale joint force exercise… It's an unusual convergence of two unusual factors. The current drought conditions and a very intensified use of live fire at the ranges in Pinion Canyon."During his presentation, Holdread explained that the exercise could involve "5,000 troops, 300 tracked vehicles, 400 wheeled vehicles, jets, helicopters," and other equipment over a period of up to two weeks and warned of the potential for fire ignition in already dry conditions.To add to the worries, just before Holdread's presentation, LAC Sheriff Derek Navarette and LAC Emergency Manager Darren Kolakowski recommended stage two fire restrictions due to the ongoing drought sweeping across the region and the "extreme" fire conditions across the county."I consulted with fire chiefs and the districts and the county, as well as the City of Trinidad, to discuss their concerns regarding the current extreme fire dangers and the ongoing drought conditions that we're experiencing," Navarette said. "They were all in agreement, and they formally recommended that the county move from stage one to stage two."Kolakowsk added that flames in current conditions could spread two to five miles per hour and said that was "extremely fast.""As of the middle of March, we had over 23 red flag warning days," he said.He also said that the heat at which fuel had been burning was "historic."As previously reported, U.S. Army officials engaged the local community when they came to Trinidad's City Hall to discuss future training at Piñon Canyon, including plans to expand capabilities, increase training frequency and potentially introduce larger weapons systems as part of broader modernization efforts. In the Mar. 27-dated formal letter the county sent to Fort Carson, they outlined concerns about wildfire risk, environmental damage, and even impacts to historic sites associated with the "Ivy Mass" training exercise set for May."The vegetation at PCMS is extremely dry following below-average winter precipitation," officials said in the letter. "The use of live propellant charges and spotting munitions increases the risk of a wildfire that could impact adjacent private properties. Such an event could devastate livestock operations, grazing forage and ranch infrastructure."The letter also urged the Army to halt live-fire activity at lower thresholds than currently planned.Additionally, county officials also asked the Army to confirm that firefighting resources would be in place per their Fire Management Plan and to suspend training only during "extreme" fire danger.Holdread, however, sent his own letter to Col. Erik Oksenvaag, the Garrison Commander at Fort Carson.In response, Okensevagg sent a letter acknowledging the concerns but said the training remained "essential" and that they would proceed, but with safety measures in place."Please be assured that we share your deep respect for the land and the safety of the communities surrounding PCMS," Okensevagg said. "The decision to conduct this essential training comes after extensive planning and includes a robust series of safety and mitigation measures that are strictly enforced."He also said it will conduct "continuous fire risk assessments," deploy on-site firefighting resources and coordinate with local agencies throughout the exercise, and emphasized that training may be modified or suspended if conditions warrant, based on recommendations from fire officials monitoring weather and fire risk.The response letter also included mitigation strategies, such as firebreaks, vegetation management, and strict safety protocols, to reduce wildfire risk during operations.Wildfires weren't the only concern shared by both county officials and activists, with both raising the proverbial alarm over potential damage to archaeological and cultural sites within the training area.The county's letter warned of "cumulative degradation" of these resources and called for stronger mitigation efforts.Holdread pointed to Army documents acknowledging that some impacts may be unavoidable, quoting language that "avoidance and minimization… is not feasible."