I was impressed enough with the accomplishments of FireWise of Southwest Colorado that in 2013, when Montezuma County coordinator position was last fully funded, I became a FireWise Neighborhood Ambassador. I have since become a member of the FireWise Steering Committee.
It was disappointing that, in 2014, the position was only funded at half the requested (and 2010-2013) level. But even with that level of funding, the coordinator was very effective.
The coordinator prepared a community assessment, with input from the local fire chief, that allowed our neighborhood to receive grants from the Colorado Department of Natural Resources and the BLM for $7500. The residents put in close to 300 hours of volunteer work, valued at over $6,300. This work provided a shaded fuel break along the roads in the subdivision where the Dolores fire chief had previously stated that he would not come in during a forest fire due to the heavy fuel loads along the roads.
The total money brought in to the county for on the ground wildfire mitigation projects was about $90,000, not counting what has been spent by property owners.
With $29,266 to fund the basic Montezuma County program in 2015, FireWise of Southwest Colorado will be able to continue its progress toward making high-risk communities throughout Montezuma County better prepared for living with wildfires.
Chapter 11 of the Montezuma County Comprehensive Land Use Plan, Policy 6. Wildfire Risks In Wooded Areas, states that, " It is recommended that discussions be undertaken with local fire districts, landowners, the State Forest Service, the San Juan National Forest and BLM Resource Area to explore opportunities to work cooperatively in addressing the issue of wildfire risks in wooded areas experiencing residential development, including those areas on, or adjacent to, public lands.
Such discussions should address the roles and policies of the various entities regarding emergency fire suppression; as well as coordinated efforts to reduce fuels through thinning, controlled burns and other measures." FireWise has been the key link between land management agencies, local fire districts, and landowners in facilitating these discussions and actions.
Philip Ayers
Mancos
