Fire restrictions in Summit County lowered from Stage 2 to Stage 1 on Sept. 11, and the fire danger this week moved from high to moderate. The fire danger had been at high since it lowered there from extreme Aug. 13.

Matt Benedict, the division chief of wildfire and community preparedness with the Red, White & Blue Fire Protection District, wrote in an email that recent elevated humidity in Summit County has helped the danger level and restrictions decrease.

Nearby counties have received “more significant” rain events than Summit recently, but increased rain in the county this week is “good news,” Benedict wrote. Summit is still in D4 drought conditions, which are the most severe, and Benedict wrote those conditions have long-term effects on ground and vegetation moisture.

Fire officials urge residents to not grow complacent with the lowered fire danger and restrictions, Benedict wrote. Summit has seen a large portion of its wildfires in September, October and early November in previous years, including the Ptarmigan, Williams Fork, Deep Creek, Meadow Creek, East Troublesome and Brush Creek fires.

Homeowners should continue working to protect their homes by weed whacking grasses within 30 feet of their home and leaf blowing within 5 feet — especially as aspen leaves start to fall. Residents can borrow tools to do that work from Red, White & Blue’s station on Main Street in Breckenridge.