Firewise Council of Southwest Colorado
Bi-Monthly Meeting
July 17, 2007
San Juan Public Lands Center

The next meetings are 9/25; and 11/27 beginning at 4:30 p.m.

Present: Ambassadors:    Mike Mastos, La Plata Vista Estates; Bob Koenig, Mesa Vista HOA; Jack Cannon, Enchanted Forest Estates; Joy Mathis, Tripp Creek HOA; Erika Chopich and Jigger Staby, Shenandoah HOA; Les Kole and John Van Schaik, Deer Valley; JT Coyne, Vista de Oro; Ron Atkinson and Bob Manning, Rafter J HOA; Patricia Haupt, Durango Ridge Ranch; Chris Judson and Linda Baerther, Wilderness Lakes; Orion Gassaway, Aspen Trails.                                            Partners and Other: Harry Bruell, Southwest Conservation Corps; Dave Abercrombie, Durango Fire and Rescue Authority; Kent Grant, Colorado State Forest Service; Mike Kane, Sr., Fire Ready, Inc.; and Marsha Porter-Norton, Ambassador Program coordinator.

Missionary Ridge Commemorative Events: Joy Mathis gave an update on the weekend of events held in early June.     There was a great deal of publicity for the events and the Firewise Council’s preparedness pledge project was well- received. Ambassador Leslie Melton did a lot of work on pulling the pledge together working with Butch Knowlton, Joy and Marsha, and others.  The pledge of preparedness can continue to be distributed for signing. More details will follow on the exact mechanisms.

Fire-Fence: Representatives from a private company called Fire-Fence gave a presentation.  Their product is a cartridge containing a Class A wetting agent that can be sprayed on surfaces in the advent of a wildfire to reduce the chances of ignition (e.g., decks, eaves, homes, outbuildings, etc.).   They said this is an adjunct to mitigation and other measures.  The cartridge can be attached to a garden hose. The company also sells equipment that will automatically spread the material similar to a yard sprinkler system.   They relayed they can give discounts to homeowners or HOAs who purchase in bulk.   Phone: 564-8080 (Wendy Ferrell) and Web:  www.fire-fence.com (their site is being updated).   Note:  The Firewise Council does not endorse private companies or products but anyone is welcome to present information.

May Meeting Notes: The May 2007 meeting notes were approved.

Membership and Procedures: The Council’s  Membership Guidelines and Operating Procedures were approved without changes.  Harry reminded everyone that since the Council’s formation, it has operated informally.  With the Council growing and with more activities, it is time to solidify membership.   However, the meetings are always open and everyone is encouraged to attend, Harry emphasized.  There are times, however, when the Council may need to conduct an item of business such as taking a public position or approving finances. In these instances, having actual members is important.  The following members were voted in after the invitation was extended to each present (as well as over email):  Jigger Staby, Jack Cannon, Bob Koenig, Harry Bruell, Marsha Porter-Norton, Joy Mathis, Benny Cordova, Mike Kane Sr., and  JT Coyne. Susan Bryson, SJMA’s executive director is the Council Treasurer because the SJMA is the Council’s fiscal agent.  She will be listed as the Treasurer but is not a formal member.  

The Council’s Partners, at present are:   Bill Ball, Office of Community Services at Fort Lewis College (and Red Zone Project Manager); David Cluff, Fire Education, Montezuma County; JD Burke, Upper Pine Fire Protection District; Chief Dan Noonan and Dave Abercrombie, Durango Fire and Rescue Authority; Butch Knowlton, La Plata County Office of Emergency Management; Kent Grant, Colorado State Forest Service; Randy Lewis, USFS/BLM, San Juan Public Lands Center; and Nancy Lauro, La Plata County Planning Department. Partners can be added on an ongoing basis.

Please refer to the Council Membership Guidelines and Operating Procedures document to learn the roles and responsibilities of both the Members and Partners.

Ambassador Report: Marsha gave a report on the Ambassador program. Recruitment is going very well. There are now 46 Ambassadors in La Plata County; 4 in Montezuma and 3 in Archuleta.   About nine more people have expressed an interest.     Now, the focus should be on sustaining the program financially and continuing to offer as much support, technical assistance, and help as possible to the Ambassadors, it was noted. 

The Ambassador Committee met and gave input into a sustainability plan. Currently, the program is operating with a 20K grant from La Plata County via monies from a federal Title III grant.    This source of funds will run out in September although the funds can very likely be extended to the end of the year based on expenditures to date.    The sustainability plans call for developing multiple sources of revenue via program sponsors; grants; one small event; etc.   The projected income needed for 2008 is projected to be $16,500.   Raising funds for the program will require the work and input of the entire Council, Marsha said.   Several Ambassadors said they would like to approach their HOAs for a donation.  This would not be an expectation of Ambassadors.  

A new, potential role for Ambassadors, as requested by Butch Knowlton, is to train Ambassadors to accompany the OEM and Sheriff Department personnel into a burn area and inform residents of the status of their homes.  This would be a new role for Ambassadors and one that needs to be carefully explored, everyone agreed.   The action step is to contact Butch to get more details and a better idea of the training involved, it was decided.

The program is receiving a lot of publicity as follows:
 

Finally, Marsha said that a program goal should be to expand  help and reach for Montezuma and Archuleta Counties.  This will take new funding but the program is regional and we need more outreach and activity in these areas.

Colorado Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP):  There will be an in-service with the Colorado State Forest Service on how to develop a neighborhood-specific Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP) on October 4th.   Time and location are TBA.
 
La Plata County Land Use Code: The La Plata County Land Use Code, which includes drive way standards and fire mitigation measures for new development, is moving forward.  The Council voted to send a letter of support specifically addressing these two areas. A draft will be circulated over email for comment.        The Planning Commission is set to vote on it July 26th. Individual letters to the County are encouraged, Dave said.

State Forest Restoration Grants: Kent Grant explained that there are new State monies available for on-the-ground forest restoration projects (an email went out on this.)   Everyone was encouraged to consider applying to get work done.     A CWPP is required. There are county—wide CWPPs in place that could be used as justification if an HOA does not have one.   (You can find the grant at the CSFS’s Web site: http://csfs.colostate.edu/).  (You can find the CWPPs at: www.southwestcoloradofires.org). 

Mesa Verde Tour: It was decided that in October, a special meeting of the Firewise Council will be held with a tour at Mesa Verde. Allen Farnsworth, formerly of the SJPLC and now with Mesa Verde as their Fire Management Officer has offered to give a tour and host a Firewise Council event there. More details will emerge as to date, time, etc.   This will not be a business meeting.

Meeting Date: The regular meeting time of the Firewise Council was changed to be the 4th Tuesday of every other month in order to include several new people.   The next meetings are 9/25; and 11/27 beginning at 4:30 p.m.

Scanners: Jigger announced that in case of a fire, those with ham radios can tune into local frequencies that the fire departments use to obtain more specific information about where the fire is located, etc.   One can find these frequencies at: www.gmra.org/n0nhp/

Booklets:  The Firewise Council previously received a grant to disburse a comprehensive manual entitled: Fire Smart: Protecting Your Community From Wildfire.   This publication covers issues, assessment systems, solutions, mitigation techniques, emergency measures, training, communications and public education, land use planning, ideas for action and resources.   Booklets were given to everyone at the meeting who requested one. More are available so contact Marsha if you want one.