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Meeting Summary and Outcomes
FireWise of Southwest Colorado
March 16, 2004
Present: Kristie Borchers, Nicole Smith, Chas
Carmichael, Dan Ochocki, Joy Mathis, LeeAnn Vallejos, Laurie Robison,
Marsha Porter-Norton, Pam Wilson, Dan Noonan, Ron Tyner, Mike Kane,
Jr., Nancy Lauro, Ted Taloman, Jay Hwang, Ben Cordova, Richard Geer,
Bob Glenn, Jon Bear, Katherine Tim, Carolyn Hunter
I. Last meeting summary approved
II. Red Cross Presentation
Red Cross is operating under a congressional charter to help people
prevent and reduce disaster losses. The idea is that well-trained
volunteers can help do fire mitigation educational outreach. Red
Cross signed a memorandum with various groups, including the National
Fire Protection Association and wildland fire management agencies,
to work on this issue.
Pilot program took place in a western Colorado chapter last fall.
Power point was given on the program, and Fire Council members received
corresponding handouts. The presentation outlined the importance
of working with partners including CSFS, USFS, BLM, homeowners assoc.,
State Farm, and contractors. They also described, “What’s
in a Mitigation Toolbox?”—which includes opportunities
and literature for workshops, trainings, grant opportunities and
demonstrations.
The main component of the program includes Red Cross volunteers
going to homeowners and describing what can be done conceptually
to be eventually done by a contractor or the homeowner themselves.
Red Cross volunteers must first read, “Community Wildfire
Preparedness Education” by Ronald W. Hodgson, Ph.D. Firewise
council members were given a copy of the publication as well as
the “Task Book,” which provides a checklist of trainings
the volunteer has accomplished.
A video was shown with testimonials from volunteers and Red Cross
employees as well as clips of trainings. The presentation was opened
up for questions and discussion. If the Firewise council is interested
in adopting this program, Red Cross would help coordinate the training,
the program could be under the name of the council, expenses would
include travel expenses for the Red Cross volunteers and materials.
www.rockymountainwildlandfire.info lists grants and funding sources.
The council decided they are interested in sponsoring a training
possibly at the beginning of June, and it was suggested that comments
and input be gathered via e-mail to Kristie at info@fireready.com.
We will discuss further at the next meeting.
III. On the Ground Committee--Chas’s update—Chas
is gone until the end of March. Calendar for Bark Beetle meetings
is posted on www.southwestcoloradofires.org website.
IV. Education update—Herald is working on
the Fire Prevention insert going out May 3. Focus is fire prevention—half
of the Insert will focus on hands-on “how-tos” –
a planner for property owners, and the other half will focus on
the concept of the FireWise Council (the many different stories
of the primary players, different approaches/interests/angles).
Firewise Council members have been asked to provide information
for the insert. Contact Kristie for more information.
Pikes Peak Partners in Wildfire Prevention a similar group as the
Firewise Council Kristie is attending a mitigation conference in
April and will meet with them.
5-part brochures will be delivered to the Fire Department and are
almost finished! Firewise Council will be asked to help distribute
them. Perhaps we can buy plastic holders for the brochures to be
displayed in realtor’s offices etc. The brochures will be
available on-line.
Rack cards are done! Council members were asked to help distribute
the cards. Durango Association of Realtors can help distribute to
realtors. They would also like a presentation on Firewise Council
and what we do so that they can make homeowners aware of their options.
April 17th, Homeowners Symposium, 10am – 2pm at the Fairgrounds.
Insurance issues, legalities of covenants for HOA, grants, slash
disposal, and evacuation plans will be covered during the day. Council
will create an invite for HOA’s to be sent out on Monday,
March 22. Mitigation companies will be invited to set up a display/table
in the morning and then be available to answer questions during
the last portion of the symposium. Council decided that vendors
would be charged to set up a table to offset the cost of lunch pizzas.
Kristie will send out a letter to the vendors by Monday that includes
a registration form. Marsha will do the PSA’s for the event.
Nancy Lauro handed out draft copy of the driveway rules.
Next meeting April 20th 5:30pm
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