If you live in the area of Peak 7 in Summit County, expect an avalanche control device to go off sometime between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Thursday.
The Summit County Sheriff's Office said an unexploded avalanche control device was found in the area of Peak 7 on National Forest land there.
The device is used to trigger avalanches in a controlled manner, according to a news release from the Sheriff's Office.
While Stage 1 Fire Restrictions remain in place, the Sheriff's Office, the U.S. Forest Service and the Red, White and Blue Fire District agree it'd be a good idea to detonate the device.
Sheriff Jaime FitzSimons said in the release that the decision to detonate the device in place was born of a concern for safety; it could be dangerous to try to move the device. It could also be dangerous to just leave it there and let some poor hiker find the dangerous thing.
FitzSimons took the opportunity to remind anyone visiting the state's many wilderness areas that you may find a suspicious device. The best thing to do is leave it there and call the local authorities immediately.
Because the device is commonly used around the winter months, the Sheriff's Office said the planned detonation will sound similar to other avalanche-control related explosions. There is no need to call 911.
