Firewise Council of Southwest Colorado: Accomplishments 2003 to 2007

Education and Outreach

• Produced a five-part brochure series on various wildfire topics for ongoing distribution throughout southwest Colorado. Find the brochures under the “Prevention” tab at this Web site. Granted permission for sister-organizations in Glenwood and Colorado Springs, Colorado to re-print the series.
• Planned and organized regular speaking engagements for businesses, service clubs, educators, home owner associations, schools, non-profits and governments – 30 done to date.
• Participated in the regional April Wildfire Prevention and Education Month through hosting events: 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.
• Distributed firewise building materials booklets to area architects.
• Hosted in-services for Neighborhood Ambassadors, interested community members and Firewise Council members on topics such as: wildfire and insurance issues, climate change, wilderness and wildfire mitigation issues, the Red Zone software program, the USFS Ten Year Strategy for Forest Health, How to Write a Neighborhood Wildfire Protection Plan, and other topics.
• Staffed, with volunteers, educational booths at key events such as home and garden shows, health fairs and other community events.
• Distributed two locally-produced wildfire videos at meetings.
• Established a Firewise Council of Southwest Colorado section of the www.southwestcoloradofires.org Web site (maintained by the USFS/BLM, CSFS and the Office of Community Services at Fort Lewis College).

Neighborhood Ambassador Program

• Launched the program in December 2004 as a pilot project to increase neighborhood and grassroots involvement in wildfire safety and education. The program is now permanent.
• Secured a $20,000 grant from La Plata County in 2006 to enhance and build the Neighborhood Ambassador Program. The program has engaged over 33 subdivisions to date in recruiting Ambassadors.
• Received publicity via a Durango Herald feature article in December.

Networking, Partnerships and Advocacy

• Developed a partnership with the San Juan Mountains Association (SJMA) who acts as the Firewise Council’s non-profit fiscal agent.
• Attended 2005 national Firewise Workshop in Denver to gain local project ideas.
• Gave extensive input into the development of the 2006 Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) for La Plata County. Find it at this Web Site. This plan updated the 2002 Community Fire Plan.
• Gave a financial donation to the Missionary Ridge and Valley Fires Monument.
• Will participate in the 2007 Missionary Ridge Commemorative events, 6/8 to 6/10, 2007.
• Produced articles on wildfire awareness and preparedness that were printed in two issues of the La Plata Electric Association’s Country Life magazine and one issue of Empire Electric’s magazine.
• Organized support for provisions in the draft La Plata County Land Use Code pertaining to drive way standards and wildfire mitigation (likely to be voted on in 2007).
• Supported the Durango Fire and Rescue Authority’s ballot initiative in November 2006.
• Continue to explore partnership ideas to help residents dispose of slash and debris caused by property mitigation. This is an ongoing agenda item at Firewise Council meetings.
• Obtained permission to put the Firewise Council’s logo on the mobile command unit purchased by the Durango Fire and Rescue Authority with Homeland Security Funds. (This vehicle is used by other fire fighting entities in the region as well.)

Organizational

• Hosted monthly meetings from 2003 to 2005. In 2006, the Firewise Council went to a bi-monthly meeting schedule.
• Completed a strategic plan in 2005.
• Working to establish more of a regional presence for the Firewise Council and to revise the membership guidelines.
  

May 2007