Editor:
Despite funding the Montezuma County Chapter of FireWise of Southwest Colorado for the last four years, the Montezuma County draft budget for 2014 does not yet include any funding for it. Last year, hundreds of Montezuma County residents were evacuated from their homes because of the Weber and Roatcap wildfires. Wildfire is Southwest Colorado’s number one natural disaster threat!
The requested $25,980 would maintain the presence of the Montezuma County neighborhood ambassador program coordinator, directly support each ambassador with materials and workshops, and cover program director time to support the Montezuma County chapter through grant writing, newsletters, and more.
FireWise has made a special effort to be relevant in Montezuma County, expanded on its programs to outreach to residents outside of organized property owners associations, launched a chipper rebate program with non-County funding, spread additional information about reducing wildland fire risk and improving forest health in piñon/ juniper ecosystems, and put on workshops to improve mitigation skills.
FireWise of Southwest Colorado is a key participant in achieving the goals set out in the county-adopted Wildfire Preparedness Plan.
FireWise received a $50,000 grant for Weber Fire recovery efforts to support private landowners impacted by the fire.
With FireWise’s support, Southwest Colorado residents and subdivisions received $858,950.58 toward wildfire risk reduction in high-wildfire risk areas in 2012. Ambassadors reported 4,456 volunteer hours last year.
FireWise helped ensure that the Weber fire was contained on Road 46 and homes could be protected that couldn’t have been five years ago.
FireWise of Southwest Colorado’s ability to help residents in their efforts to become more wildfire ready will be greatly diminished without county support. Funding that would otherwise go toward matching grants for risk-reduction programs and distributing educational materials would have to be redirected toward the most basic aspect of keeping our programs going, maintaining a 50 hour/month contract position to support the existing neighborhood ambassadors.
Philip Ayers, Dolores