Western Slope Gun Range Reopens, Shuttered Following Lake Christine Fire

Courtesy Katie Baum Hueth/Eagle County Sheriff's Office

In anticipation of the upcoming big game hunting season, town officials have reopened a gun range which was shuttered following a blaze that was started at another shooting range. 

Visitors using tracer rounds at the community gun range in Basalt, Colorado kindled the 12,500 acre Lake Christine Fire in southwest Eagle County. 

The Vail Daily reports that "Gypsum Shooting Sports Park" leaders believe reopening their range will actually lower fire risks because of management supervision of gun users.

The club has instituted several new regulations and safety precautions to adhere to current Stage 2 fire restrictions. 

For example, no tracer rounds are permitted.

The Lake Christine Fire is currently 90 percent contained.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife will hold two public meetings in Basalt on resident concerns about the Basalt shooting range where the Lake Christine Fire began. The first will be August 21 from 7 to 9 p.m. and the second will be from 6 to 8 p.m on August 27.

Both meetings will take place at the Basalt High School. 

Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the location where the Lake Christine Fire began. It began at the Colorado Parks and Wildlife gun range at Basalt, not the Gypsum Shooting Sports Park.  The Colorado Parks and Wildlife gun range in Basalt remains closed.