The Firewise Council of Southwest Colorado seeks to keep homes, properties and lives from being damaged by
wildfire. It does so through neighborhood-based, citizen-driven approaches including overseeing a
Neighborhood Ambassador program, completing pubic education projects, encouraging and facilitating
homeowners to undertake mitigation, and changing the public will so as to improve community safety.

Partners

The Firewise Council is grassroots and collaboratively involves a wide variety of partners:

• Homeowner Associations, Subdivisions, High Risk Roads, and Neighborhoods (as of 3/07):
  • La Plata County: Aspen Trails, Buena Vista Ranch, Celedon II, Cherry Gulch Road, Columbine, CR 203 (near Trimble), Deer Valley Estates, Durango Hills, Durango Ridge Ranch, Edgemont Ranch, Enchanted Forest, Falls Creek Ranch, Forest Lakes, Los Ranchitos, Mesa Vista, Palo Verde, Rafter J (part), Shenandoah, Trapper’s Crossing, Tripp Creek, Vista de Oro, and Wilderness Lake Mountain HOA.
  • Montezuma County: Cedar Mesa Ranches, Indian Camp Ranch, and Elk Stream Ranch; and
  • Archuleta County: Aspen Springs and Wildflower
• Government – San Juan National Forest/Bureau of Land Management, Colorado State Forest Service, and local fire departments and districts.
• Non-profit organizations and educational institutions – San Juan Mountains Association, Southwest Conservation Corps, and the Fort Lewis College -- Office of Community Services.
• Private businesses and additional networks – wildfire mitigation companies, realtors, architects and insurance agents, and the La Plata Electric Association.

Activities

• Overseeing and running a Neighborhood Ambassador Program;
• Assisting with development of the La Plata County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP);
• Keeping an extensive email tree to educate and mobilize;
• Acting as a collaborative Council and holding bi-monthly meetings;
• Distributing a five-part brochure series throughout the region on key wildfire topics;
• Providing information via Web site access at www.southwestcoloradofires.org;
• Organizing regular educational programs including outreach to homeowner associations;
• Participating in the annual April Wildfire Prevention and Education Month;
• Staffing educational booths at home and garden shows, Home Depot, events, etc.;
• Distributing relevant materials to realtors, architects and other stakeholder groups;
• Writing public education articles for submission to newspapers and magazines;
• Finding ways to increase mitigation opportunities for property owners;
• Working with the fire fighting entities to speak to community groups about wildfire safety;
• Catalyzing regional collaboration and action with other counties; and
• Advocating for policies that improve community safety.

Firewise Council of Southwest Colorado
c/o San Juan Mountains Association
P.O. Box 2261, Durango, Colorado 81302
970-385-1256 www.southwestcoloradofires.org (click on the Firewise icon)
4/07