Preparing for Possible Wildfires
Representatives from local organizations map different areas of MPEI's service territory

When the Snow Melts
The land will be a fire risk; planning now can mitigate the fire danger

On a sunny, spring-like Saturday in March, the Grand Lake fire station doors were open to just a handful of people, maybe 50 or less at the first Community Wildfire Prevention Plan meeting. Mike Long, Grand Lake Fire Chief and his brother Keith from the Front Range were grateful for the turnout, small as it may be, on such a beautiful day when many could be enjoying a beautiful day in the high country.

What is a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP)? The CWPP are authorized and defined in Title 1 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act (HFRA) passed by Congress on November 21, 2003 and became law on December 3, 2003. The HFRA emphasizes and encourages community planning for a wildfire protection plan, and with a plan in place, can offer communities grant opportunities to put the plan into effect. It is a written and agreed upon document that identifies how a community will reduce its risk from wildland fire. It addresses wildfire response capability and protection of homes and other structures, as well as identifies and prioritizes areas of federal and non-federal land where fuels reduction is needed to reduce threats to the community or its critical infrastructure. The HFRA gives communities with a fire prevention plan, the opportunity to have greater influence over the location and type of land management treatments that occur on the federal lands surrounding their community. It’s an 8-step process, well worth initiating for the safety and well being of all residents and businesses within a forested community, and it takes time and input from everyone.

Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, Rocky Mountain National Park Service, American Red Cross and staff members from Grand County Road & Bridge, Sheriffs Department and other local organizations, as well as representatives from Mountain Parks Electric, and residents of Grand Lake were all present to get the plans rolling.

We all look in awe at how many dead trees have been affected by beetle kill, the dryness of grassy fields, all just waiting for the first strike of lightning---we all wonder when it’s going to happen and these residents are all to aware of the dangers, so something has to be done.

Breaking into groups and covering the North, South and Town of Grand Lake zoned areas, and an emergency evacuation group, these busy workers began mapping out access and egress pathways, emergency stations, historic landmarks, substations and power lines, water plants, and American Red Cross shelters.

You see it’s not just about creating defensible spaces around your personal property—what about the vacant landowner who has standing dead tries on his property, what about the federal lands surrounding your acreage? If an out of control wildfire hits it will affect water supplies and sheds, generation of power, your families, your pets and every one of our emergency staff, utility linemen and volunteers whose lives are at stake when saving lives and protecting property. The threat of a wildfire is something that we live with everyday. It is a part of a natural presence that we can no longer ignore and, we cannot just stand by and do nothing about. And, if we must live with the threat of wildfire, we must know what our resources are, what actions can be taken, and we must be involved in the planning. Every homeowner, every property owner, every person living in our great community has a responsibility to help in building a plan in the event of this catastrophic part of nature.

There’s no need to mention the number of ways a wildfire may start—we all know the possibilities. The question is “how prepared is your community in the event of a wildfire” and it is not a question of if it will happen---it will, it’s just a question of when! And, if it hits---what will be done to save lives and property.

This is just the beginning of a plan. It’s not up to the “other guy”, it’s up to the community both here and those who live away. Be a part of setting up the CWPP—it’ll save more than the trees on your land ---it may save lives and having to rebuild the community and all that you treasure. And, it’s not just Grand Lake—other towns in our service territory are meeting for the same reasons.

You’ll want to attend the next meeting in May. To find out the date for the Grand Lake meeting, or if you would like more information on CWPP, contact the Grand Lake Fire Department at (970) 627-8248 and ask for Mike Long or you may e-mail Mike at mlong351@aol.com.