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Fremont County Commissioner Dwayne McFall: : Despite sheriff’s downgrade, fire danger still exists – Canon City Daily Record.Falling short of a Smokey the Bear impersonation, Commissioner Dwayne McFall warned residents Tuesday of the danger which still exists for wildfire after a downgrade to the fire ban by Sheriff Allen Cooper.Fremont County presently is positioned at Stage 1 restrictions, down from Stage 2.“Which is still restrict[ive],” McFall said.The substantial change from Stage 2 to Stage 1 restrictions, according to the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office website, relates to campfire within fire rings in developed areas and open fire in developed areas being allowed, but not necessarily advised.“It is still kind of dry out there,” McFall said.“Even though [precipitation] is helping, it is not enough yet.” The furthest eastern portions of Fremont County, about 24% of the land area, are in abnormally dry conditions, according to U.S.Drought Monitor data from May 21.Another 20% of Fremont County, in the central and northern areas of the county, is in moderate drought.The western area, about 56% of the land area, remains in severe drought.New data will be released Thursday.“Those trees, the dry grass are still volatile fuels,” McFall said.“Be careful and diligent when you are out and about… and be safe.” Cañon City was slightly above the normal precipitation value for May but is now trailing the average precipitation of 1.37 inches by 0.15 inches, according to the National Weather Service’s Pueblo office.The last recorded precipitation in Cañon City was on May 21.Drought.gov ranked April as the 35th driest on record for Colorado and the sixth driest January-to-April period on record.Data for May has not yet been released.In April, Canon City received 0.37 inches of precipitation.More detail on what constitutes an open fire and a developed area is available through the FCSO’s website and a graphic posted on Facebook.Brian Porter is a special government and politics contributor to the Cañon City Daily Record.