Montezuma County Sheriff Joey Chavez told the county commissioners Monday that while the current conditions do not warrant reinstating the fire ban, the breezy conditions and low moisture level have made setting fires of any kind a risky proposition.

During Monday’s meeting of the Board of County Commissioners, Chavez raised the possibility of a fire ban as early as Friday. Although he did not ask the board to re-instate the ban, Chavez strongly urged residents not to set any fires — especially in trash cans or other private incinerators.

Fires in trash cans have been responsible for approximately the last four blazes in the county, according to Montezuma County Commissioner Kent Lindsay.

Additionally, Chavez pointed out that people who set fires — controlled burns, trash fires, etc. — are legally and financially responsible for all properly damage resulting from any conflagration.

Chavez is deeply concerned with preventing fires, rather than simply moving to re-instate the ban after a blaze has occurred. In the meantime, he urges residents to use "caution and common sense."

The National Weather Service, however, has issued a "Red Flag" warning for Southwest Colorado. High winds, warm temperatures, low precipitation and low humidity levels have prompted the concern, as has a five-acre (non-structural) fire near Pagosa Springs.

Archuleta and Dolores counties have already instituted fire bans, the Forest Service reported.

In other business, commissioners unanimously approved the adoption of the Model Traffic Code for unincorporated areas of Montezuma County.

The code allows for the revenue generated by traffic citations to be retained by the county. Ordinarily, these moneys go to the state.

The county commissioners voted to adopt the measure after expressing concerns as to what form its implementation would take.

County Commissioner Gene Story expressed concerns that sheriff’s officers would use the new ordinance strictly as a means of generating money, but Chavez assured the board that he was opposed to such misuse of the ordinance.

The point of the ordinance is not to raise money, Chavez said, but merely to ensure that money is kept in Montezuma County.

"Most counties are going to this," Chavez said. "There’s money being generated ... we’re going to write tickets; why not leave the money in this county?"

Chavez also said that, traffic code or not, "we will continue writing tickets."