Park County Sheriff's Office

06/05/2026

UPDATE (3:51PM): The 246 Fire is currently estimated at 7.4 acres. Fire crews have completed a containment line around the entire fire and are actively working to secure the perimeter.

Additionally, to clarify a previous statement, the operation conducted was a backburn and not a controlled burn. The backburn was implemented as a tactical firefighting measure to assist with containment efforts.

UPDATE AS OF 1:41PM ON JUNE 5Th, 2026….

There is currently no containment on the 246 Fire. The USFS plans to conduct a backburn operation and transition the incident into a controlled burn. A dozer line has been established around the fire, which is currently estimated at 2.6 acres.

At this time, there is no threat to any structures. Residents can expect to see another plume of smoke in the area as fire operations continue.

USFS Road will remain closed until further notice. Some local fire agencies have been released; however, there will continue to be significant fire department activity and traffic in the area. The fire is currently under investigation.

For questions or additional information, please contact the USFS Public Information Officer at 719-553-1432.

Public Notice: As of 10:45 AM on June 5th, 2026, an active wildland fire is currently being managed at the intersection of County Road 92 and USFS Road 246. The Lake George Fire Department, Hartsel, USFS, and multiple other fire departments are responding to the incident. The fire is approximately 3-5 acres with low flames and heavy smoke. To ensure the safety of both the public and firefighting personnel, please avoid the area to facilitate efficient fire suppression efforts. Updates will be provided as information becomes available. Currently, there are no structures threatened.

05/25/2026

Memorial Day isn’t just about an extra day off, going camping, throwing a line in the water, or firing up the BBQ. It’s about remembering the men and women who gave everything and never got to come home. Spend time with your family, enjoy the freedoms they defended, and take a moment to remember the reason you can.❤️🤍💙 🇺🇸❤️🤍💙

05/20/2026

Congratulations to all the award recipients at Platte Canyon High School’s Scholarship Awards Night, and to all those preparing to graduate in the coming weeks. Undersheriff Steve Spodyak, along with members of Park County Law Enforcement Gives Back presented three scholarships in the memory of fallen PCSO Corporal Nate Carrigan.

05/15/2026

This National Police Week, we honor the men and women behind the badge who show up every day to serve, protect, and stand beside this community through the good days and the hard ones.

To our deputies, detention staff, dispatchers, civilian personnel, and the families who support them, thank you for your sacrifice, strength, and dedication. We are grateful for all you do, seen and unseen.

We also remember and honor the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Their service and legacy will never be forgotten. 💙💕💙

05/08/2026

Early Sunday morning on April 26, 2026, the Park County Emergency Communications Center received a concerning report from a motorist traveling on Highway 285 south of Fairplay. The caller reported that a man walking alongside the highway was in possession of a firearm and that the firearm discharged as the motorist passed by.

A Fairplay Police Officer responded to the area to investigate the report and located the individual, who was armed with a firearm. When the officer attempted to make contact, the suspect fired multiple rounds at the officer. Despite the dangerous circumstances, the officer was able to take the suspect into custody without injury to either the officer or the suspect.

The suspect was identified as 63-year-old Jack Ference of Fairplay. Ference was arrested on a warrant on May 5, 2026, and charged with the following offenses:

• Criminal Attempt First Degree Murder – Extreme Indifference
• Attempted Second Degree Assault on a Peace Officer
• Menacing
• Reckless Endangerment
• Unlawful Conduct Involving an Un-serialized Firearm

All charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Detectives with the Park County Sheriff’s Office are actively investigating this incident, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with information related to this investigation is encouraged to contact Detective Tucker with the Park County Sheriff’s Office at 719-836-4385.

Send a message to learn more

05/06/2026

As of Noon on May 6, 2026, the County-wide Burn Ban has been lifted. We are grateful for the moisture!
As a reminder, any burning of slash between May 1st and September 30th is a violation.

04/30/2026

IMPORTANT: Park County 911 Communications will be performing a test of the CodeRED system on Monday, May 4 at 12pm.

*If you receive alerts as expected, on the devices you expect, no action is needed.

*If you are unsure of your enrollment status or are not receiving alerts on all devices, please re-enroll adding any devices that did not receive the message.

*If you do not receive the alert, please register to receive notifications.

To register or to re-enroll, go to: https://accountportal.onsolve.net/parkcountyco

If you have any difficulties registering or re-enrolling, please call CodeRED support at 866-939-0911 extension 2 for help re-registering.

04/22/2026

Just a friendly reminder that Park County remains under a Stage II burn ban. Additionally, Colorado Parks and Wildlife will close the Jefferson–Como Range from May 4 through May 8, 2026, for annual maintenance.

Thank you, and please stay safe.

04/16/2026

🚨 It’s National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week…

We figured we’d recognize our dispatchers the same way they send us calls…

👉 right at the last minute
👉 and somehow it still turns into hours of work 😏

All jokes aside…they’re the calm in the chaos, the voice on the worst days, and the reason we actually know where we’re going.

We give them hell… because we love them. And because they can take it. 💛

Drop some love for dispatch. They’ve earned it.

04/14/2026

The Park County Sheriff’s Office is continuously investigating reports of Missing Persons. The following cases are open and under investigation and we are asking for the public’s assistance. If you have any information regarding the following people, please contact Detective Zach Tucker at 719-836-4385 or you can email him at [email protected].

Patricia Ann Lilly, missing since October 5th, 1980. She was last seen in the Lost Creek/Bison Peak area near the Lost Park Campground. Patricia was described as a white female, 5’2”, 105lbs, Brown hair. She would now be in her 80’s. No photo available. Foul play is suspected.

Fe M. Kopper, missing since November 28th, 2022. She was last seen near Badger Basin Rd in Hartsel, CO. Fe is described as a white female, 5’03”, 114lbs, Blonde hair, green eyes. She would now be in her late 60’s. Foul play is suspected.

Eric M. Wester, missing since July of 2025 from the area of Elkhorn Rd in Hartsel, CO. Eric is described as a white male, 6’01”, 235lbs, Blonde hair, blue eyes. Eric would ow be in his late 40’s. Eric drives either a Blue Chevy Silverado Pick up CO/License 656UMY or a Red Toyota FJ Cruiser CO/License EHP095. No foul play is suspected at this time.