Fire or No Fire?

In spite of the rain, temporary fire restrictions are still in effect, and many counties still have a fire ban. This means an outdoor fire must be built in a permanently constructed fire grate, and any outdoor smoking must be done in a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area of at least three feet diameter that is barren or cleared of all combustible material. However, there are exemptions to these restrictions. For instance, you are exempt if you obtain a fire permit or you are a Law Enforcement or Fire Officer acting in the performance of an official duty. There are other exemptions outlined by the Jefferson County Sheriff. Do you know what they are?

• Any fires contained within liquid fueled or gas fueled stoves, lanterns or heating devices.
• Charcoal grill fires at private residences or within a permanently constructed grate in a developed park, campground, or picnic area.
• Campfires or bonfires required in religious ceremonies and for which a valid written permit has been granted in advance by the local Fire Department or District.
• Permissible fireworks, provided that all combustible material is adequately cleared above and around the fireworks being used.

Check your local county sheriff’s office or website for detailed fire restrictions. The restrictions exist to keep our community safe. Please be aware of the fire danger and take adequate precautions. Thank you!

Safety First

As summer approaches, the mountain community enters “rescue season.” As the number of people taking advantage of our beautiful outdoors increases, accidents inevitably happen, even occasionally to those who are experienced and well-prepared. In these instances, our search and rescue teams are called upon to do what they do best – find those who are lost and help those who are hurt. If you plan on spending time enjoying our great mountains this season, there are some simple things you can do to increase your own chance of survival if the unexpected happens.

1. Make sure your mobile phone is fully charged and take it with you.

2. Invest in a hand-held GPS for hiking.

3. Carry a basic first-aid kit.

4. Never venture out alone.

5. Always let a third party know where you’re going and when you plan on returning.

Have fun out there enjoying  the great recreation sites available to us in the Rocky Mountains. But please, always be safe.

 

Remove Slash

One way to protect your home during fire season is by removing slash, that woody debris that frequently gets caught in the undergrowth on your property. Take some time to collect and bundle this material and put it out with your trash. With this fuel removed, your home becomes more defensible in the case of a wildfire.

As of May 10th, Jefferson County has lifted the fire ban,

but temporary fire restrictions still exist. Check the Sheriff’s website herefor an explanation of allowed activity. We want all of you to stay safe!

photo credit: Wikipedia

Prescribed Burn

Some of us may wonder, “Why are prescribed burns done on our forests?” Questions like this loom, especially after the Lower North Fork Wildfirewhich erupted from a prescribed burn. The purpose is to prevent destructive wildfires

which can be done by burning under safer conditions with the necessary tools for control. An appropriately “controlled” burn would reduce fuels that feed dangerous fires and assure that the next fire season would not bring destructive, property damaging fire. Prescribed burning is a very precise practice and a complex tool. Fire is applied in a knowledgeable manner to forest fuels on a specific land area under selected weather conditions to accomplish predetermined, well-defined management objectives. Only a certified fire prescriptionist should be allowed to burn. Proper diagnosis and detailed planning is mandatory before every burn. An incomplete assessment of any factor in a plan can lead to serious loss of property and life with serious liability questions to both the landowner and the one responsible for the burn. Here at The Big Chili, we’re not casting judgment on anyone for the prescribed burn done in March. We don’t yet know every detail – it’s possible the wind simply didn’t behave as predicted. Yet even in the wake of such a terrible turn of events it’s important to remember that prescribed burns are necessary. They actually serve to make us safer

as well as keeping the forest healthy.

Sparks

We are so thankful for the rain today. However, with a bad fire season and drought predicted for the summer, we need to be vigilant when protecting ourselves from fire. These are some things to avoid:

• Anything which produces an open flame or has the potential to create an uncontrolled fire.
• Building, maintaining, attending, or using any fire to burn trash, debris, fence rows or vegetation, or any campfire or warming fire.

We all know an open fire can suddenly and unexpectedly get out of control. However, sparks are something we may not always be on guard for, although we know their deadly potential. Periodically check your vehicle to make sure nothing is dragging along the road, throwing those dangerous sparks. If you hook up a trailer, make sure your chains are secure. If we each do our part, we can all be safer this fire season. Check the Jefferson County Sheriff website here to see the published fire ban.

Thank You For Smoking Responsibly

Here in Evergreen and the surrounding areas, we are currently under a temporary fire ban. Because of continuing high fire danger conditions, certain activities are prohibited.

If you are a smoker, it’s extremely important that you abide by the fire ban’s rules. This means smoking is strictly prohibited, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area of at least three feet diameter that is barren or cleared of all combustible material. During this dry season, please make every effort to balance your personal enjoyment and freedoms with a good dose of safety.

 

Safety First

Here in Evergreen and the surrounding areas, we are currently under a temporary fire ban. Because of continuing high fire danger conditions, certain activities are prohibited, including anything which produces an open flame or has the potential to create an uncontrolled fire. This includes grilling outside. Charcoal grills and open fires are completely forbidden on both private and public land. It is safe to cook on a gas-fueled stove, but always make decisions that keep you and your family safe. The Sheriff’s Department recommends that if we use a gas grill, we take adequate measures to prevent uncontrolled fires, such as, having containers of adequate water or dry soil, shovels, fire extinguishers, or other extinguishing agents nearby. We want everyone to enjoy the Rocky Mountain spring, but always keep safety at the forefront.

A Kiss of Thanks

He had just saved her from a fire in her house, rescuing her by carrying her out of the house into her front yard, while he continued to fight the fire. She is pregnant.

The firefighter was afraid of her at first, because he had never been around a Doberman before. When he finally got done putting the fire out, he sat down to catch his breath and rest.

A photographer from the Charlotte, North Carolina newspaper, “The Observer,” noticed this red Doberman in the distance looking at the fireman. He saw her walking straight toward the fireman and wondered what she was going to do. As he raised his camera, she came up to the tired man who had saved her life and the lives of her babies, and kissed him, just as the photographer snapped this photograph.

Thank You, Heroes

This past week we’ve been reminded that we live amongst people who sacrifice every day for our good.  The Volunteer Firefighters of Elk Creek, Indian Hills, Inter Canyon, Platte Canyon and Evergreen have all joined the Volunteers from the North Fork Fire District in an effort to fight a bigger than average foe.  Wild fire has come to Colorado and our mountain area volunteers have put in many exhausting hours in the recent days and nights fighting this beast. Many homes and two lives have been lost because of extreme dryness and wind, and today we are thankful for moisture and cooler weather.

There are others in this community of volunteers who do not physically fight the fires but have chosen to sacrifice financially to support those who do. We thank business sponsors such as Aspen Park Veterinary Hospital and ESCO Construction who make supporting our Volunteer Fire Departments a priority. They are sponsoring our 2012 Chili Cook-Off which raises funds that supply equipment and training for our local volunteer fire fighters. These businesses are our heroes, too.

We are praying today for the safety and comfort of the families who have suffered loss during the Lower North Fork Wildfire, and the protection of our Volunteer Fire and Rescue Services and all the others who have come across state borders to help us.  We are indebted to them and thank them for their sacrifice.  Heroes are people who do what they can whenever they’re needed regardless of the possible outcome.

Everyone Goes Home