A historically hot, dry winter on the Western Slope has people ‘on edge’ about a potentially severe wildfire season. But can it spur more preparedness?

A historically hot, dry winter on the Western Slope has people ‘on edge’ about a potentially severe wildfire season. But can it spur more preparedness?

Dozens of folding chairs set up in the two-bay garage of Summit Fire & EMS Station 12 filled quickly on Sunday afternoon, April 12, as people filtered in for a talk on wildfire preparedness. For extra seating, local residents brought over camp chairs and deck furniture. Others stood or sat in the back, some with children resting on their laps or dangling from their shoulders. More than 100 people turned out, a number of them scribbling in notebo…