Southwest Colorado Fire Information Clearinghouse

Firewise Council of Southwest Colorado

Bi-Monthly Meeting – Meeting Notes
November 27, 2007

2008 Firewise Council Meetings:

Jan. 22

March 25

May 27

July 22

Sept. 23

Nov. 25

Time: 4:30 to 6 PM unless otherwise noted

Note: All meetings are at La Plata Electric’s Board Room, 45 Stewart Street in Bo Do Park and are open to anyone. However, please check the meeting notice as sometimes they are moved to the San Juan Public Lands Center.

Present:

Ambassadors: (*) = Also indicates Firewise Council Members
Jack Cannon, Enchanted Forest (*); Jigger Staby, Shenandoah (*); Chris George & Linda Baerther, Wilderness Lake HOA; John Van Schiak & Les Kole, Deer Valley Estates; Joy Mathis, Trip Creek (*); Bob Manning, Rafter J; Archie Hanson, Indian Camp Ranch HOA; Jon Callender, Kernon Creek; JT Coyne, Vista de Oro (*); Bob Koenig, Mesa Vista HOA (*); Leslie Melton, area around CR 250; Byard Peake, Falls Creek Ranch; Maureen Keilty, southern part of Rafter J; and Richard Dietrich, MD, Pine River Ranches.

Other Firewise Council Members:
Benny Cordova, La Plata Electric Association; Mike Kane, Fire Ready, Inc.; Harry Bruell, Southwest Conservation Corps; and Marsha Porter-Norton.

Partners:
Kent Grant, Colorado State Forest Service; Tom Kaufman and Dave Abercrombie, Durango Fire and Rescue Authority; and Randy Lewis, USFS/BLM. Guests: Dick Norton and Erin Thomas,

Ambassador Program
Marsha reported the grant the program operated under from 11/06 to 9/07 has ended. A report was sent to La Plata County Government and it is available upon request. Almost each of the goals of the grant – from recruitment to properties treated to publicity – were met. In October, Harry, Marsha and Susan Bryson presented a thank you plaque to the La Plata County Board of Commissioners. The program is still operating with some left-over dollars, money being raised now and a small amount of funding from the USFS/BLM. More money needs to be raised so fundraising for the program was discussed. Everyone is asked to email Marsha names of entities or individuals who might be willing to be program sponsors. A committee will form after the first of the year to develop the strategies for soliciting these program sponsors. HOAs are not expected to give money but if an HOA desires to support the program financially – at any level – the money is of course appreciated.

The Ambassador committee recommended a program budget of $22,500 the next fiscal year. The budget was explained and after discussion was passed by concensus. The program directions for 2008 include: a) recruiting 10 to 12 more Ambassadors with a special focus on Montezuma County; b) making sure Ambassadors are “well cared for” and we are giving them what they need (within what is possible of course); c) establishing a mini-grant fund Ambassadors can access for doing education; d) establishing a volunteer hour tracking program and continuing to do other program evaluation; e) hosting at least four educational in-services for Ambassadors; and f) most importantly, developing sustainable funding streams. Marsha said that in 2008, we need to do more to thank Ambassadors for their excellent work.

The inservice topics brainstormed or 2008 are:

panel discussion covering insurance issues from Fire Department ISO ratings to how insurance agencies inspect properties to how premiums are defined;
California fires and lessons learned to apply here (Chief Rich Graeber, UPFPD);
global climate change its impact on the southwest’s forests;
development of evacuation plans;
how to stay motivated to do this work; and/or
a field trip such as the one done at Mesa Verde in October which was well received.

Note: We will try to tie these in-services, when possible, to Firewise Council meetings so read agendas and emails closely!

April/May Neighborhood Clean Up Days
Erin Thomas from SCC presented a project that will kick off during April Wildfire Education and Prevention Month. The project is called Neighborhood Clean Up Days. The SCC will have a crew of wildfire-trained AmeriCorps Members who will offer labor to help organize and chip piles of slash/debris from three sites selected to participate. These clean up days need to be held in April or May, 2008. Fire Ready, Inc. is offering their services at a discounted price to chip the piles of slash and debris generated by the neighbors and AmeriCorps members working together. Ambassadors would need to take a lead role in organizing this effort at their neighborhood level. Those interested would need to submit a proposal. Criteria for selection could include factors such as: a) number of homes/people impacted (effectiveness and reach of the project); b) if the neighborhood is in a high risk zone; c) willingness of Ambassadors to organize the effort; and d) ability of the HOA or neighborhood to raise the funds to pay Fire Ready ($600 to $700). Project details will be solidified ASAP, Erin said. It was noted that AmeriCorps Members are part of the National Service Corps (similar to Peace Corps only they work in the United States). This particular crew is wildfire certified (i.e., they have their Red Cards and are chain saw trained) so, they are a valuable resource. There was much enthusiasm expressed by many about this opportunity.

La Plata County Land Use Code
Harry gave a recap. After the Code passed in 2007, Butch Knowlton approached the Firewise Council about the idea of taking on the defensible space inspections. The Council decided not to go that direction but instead, submitted a proposal to Butch around the concept of doing up-front education with those building a home and or developers building entire new subdivisions. This proposal is currently very much on hold, he relayed. As we have further explored this idea, Harry relayed, the complexities and legalities have become increasingly apparent. Also, the County is considering delaying implementation of the new Code due to staff changes and other considerations. The Council will not move forward on anything without more discussion but for now, the idea is not going anywhere.

April Wildfire Prevention and Education Fire Month
It was moved and seconded that the Firewise Council will be the official sponsor of April Wildfire Prevention and Education Month, 2008. No new work is really required, Marsha said. The Council can brainstorm Fire Month activities, review the newspaper insert, and we will once again ask Ambassadors to do something during Fire Month if it fits with their goals/schedules and ideas. Part of the January meeting will be dedicated to brainstorming Fire Month ideas. In the past, a separate but linked committee oversaw Fire Month and Marsha said this didn’t seem to make much sense.

Committees
The bulk of the January meeting will be dedicated to the Firewise Council Committees breaking out into smaller groups and formulating 2008 goals and projects. A handout was given that described the five Council committees with ideas for action. Anyone can serve on a Committee. They are: Education; “On the Ground” Mitigation; Policy; Executive; and Ambassador Program Committee.

Other

Harry’s term as Chair is up at the end of this year. Please let Harry know if you are willing to serve. This will be an agenda item in January.
Ambassador Bob Koenig arranged an in-service with the Chief of the Upper Pine Fire Protection District to discuss his experiences working on wildfires in California. More details are forthcoming related to the date, location, time, etc.
Joy Mathis handed out an article and it is being sent out with these meeting notes.
HOA laws were discussed. Jon Callender and Archie Hanson relayed a new state law requires HOAs to meet at least one a year and have a Web Site. For more information, you can link to: www.icrhoa.org This is the HOA that Archie oversees and they have set their Web site up so it’s conforming to State law.
The Colorado State Forest Service state office has to submit a report to the Legislature every year called the Forest Health Report. The Firewise Council is being featured as a model collaborative in that report. Kudos to everyone ~ this is quite a feather in the cap of the Council J thanks too to Kent Grant for suggesting the Council be featured. (You can read past Forest Health Reports on the CSFS Web site.)
Maureen reported that she serves on the La Plata County Living with Wildlife Advisory Council. They recently did some public education that linked defensible space messages with wildlife messages (meaning cleared/defensible land is also good for the wildlife and for wildlife viewing). She said it’s another angle to motivate people to do something.
It was noted several times in the meeting we are once again in a very dry cycle with little hope in sight, unfortunately. The wildfire season is predicted to be very active. According to the USFS, even if we get late moisture, the absorption of the moisture into the trees will be delayed.
There will be another new Ambassador orientation on January 24th, 2008.
Archie Hanson offered any Ambassadors red jackets for $45.00. They say “Fire Ambassador” on them and provide more visibility. Contact Archie if you want one: aehanson@fone.net Archie was thanked for following up on this idea.

Submitted by Marsha Porter-Norton