On June 26, 2018 the Summit County Sheriff’s Office was notified of an unexploded avalanche control device found in the area of Peak 7 on National Forest land.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: June 27, 2018
Contact: Erin Opsahl
(970) 423-8901
Erin.Opsahl@SummitCountyCO.Gov
UNEXPLODED AVALANCHE CONTROL DEVICE FOUND
SUMMIT COUNTY, CO – On June 26, 2018 the Summit County Sheriff’s Office was notified of an unexploded avalanche control device found in the area of Peak 7 on National Forest land. An avalanche control device is an explosive charge that is utilized to trigger avalanches in a controlled manner.
Although Summit County Stage 1 Fire Restrictions prohibit the use of any explosives, the Sheriff’s Office in collaboration with Red White and Blue Fire District Chief Jim Keating and United States Forest Service District Ranger Bill Jackson, agree the best course of action is to detonate the found explosive in place.
Sheriff Jaime FitzSimons stated, “In the interest of public safety, this is the best course of action as it could be highly dangerous to move the found explosive or have it found by another backcountry user. This is a good time to remind backcountry users that explosives can be found on occasion and any suspicious items should be left and immediately reported to the Sheriff’s Office.”
The avalanche control device will be detonated between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. on Thursday, June 28, 2018. This detonation may sound similar to explosives used in avalanche work during the winter months. Do not be alarmed. There is no need to call 911.
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