Despite weeks of unyielding heat, Cortez may be more protected from fire than ever as more than 300 firefighters will flock to the area this week for the 83rd Annual Colorado State Firefighters Convention.

"Every year different cities in Colorado bid (to host) the convention and last year Cortez was awarded it," said Cortez Fire Marshal Frank Cavaliere.

"Cortez did host the convention once before," Cavaliere said, "but that was about 10 years ago."

Cortez volunteer firefighter Mike Ptaszynski said Monday that he is expecting to see between 300 and 500 Colorado firefighters at the convention which began setting up on Sunday.

Events throughout the week-long convention include vendor displays, fire college classes, fire truck judging, firefighter competitions and a memorial ceremony.

"The vendors will be setting up at the (Montezuma-Cortez) high school and showing equipment such as fire trucks, hoses, supplies and clothing," said Ptaszynski.

Ptaszynski said that the vending booths will be open to citizens who would like to come and view the engines and other firefighting equipment.

Ptaszynski added that the public is also invited to attend a series of firefighting competitions which will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday and at 1 p.m. on Friday.

"The firefighting competitions will be held on Smith Street just east of Parque De Vida," Ptaszynski said. "The (contest) will involve anywhere from one-man teams all the way up to six-man teams doing all kinds of different timed competitions such as spraying water (for accuracy), climbing ladders, unrolling hoses, and hooking up hydrants."

At 8 p.m. Wednesday evening the fun and games will come to a short halt when the firefighters gather at the Montezuma-Cortez High School auditorium for a memorial service.