Vail Daily
January 22, 2010, Julie Sutor

Environmental groups are working with local officials to ensure a proposed wilderness area doesn't create new risks for wildfires. The Hidden Gems Wilderness Campaign hopes to gain wilderness designation for about 400,000 acres of land in the White River National Forest and Gunnison National Forest in Summit, Eagle, Pitkin and Gunnison counties. The proposal would enlarge some existing wilderness areas in Summit County, such as Ptarmigan Wilderness, and would also create new stand-alone wilderness areas, including part of the Tenmile Range and the area east of Hoosier Pass. Some local officials have raised concerns about their ability to prevent and fight wildfires, should wilderness areas be located too close to private lands and water supplies....

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