Will we have a big wildfire this summer?

In this month’s installment of the When the Bell Rings, I want to talk about the question I hear most from citizens: “Will we have a big wildfire this summer?”

Of course, no one can predict when a wildfire will occur, although I think it’s safe to say that wildfires are occurring with greater frequency across our country, and even across the world.

I can also say that here in the Estes Valley, we are experiencing conditions that will contribute to more serious fires. The snowpack is at historic lows, and drought is at historic highs. This winter, if we can call it that, has been warmer and windier than any of us can remember. We’ve already had more Red Flag days than we’ve had in most years combined.

Our forests and wildland environment, which we all cherish, are under more stress than ever. Additionally, the great influx of visitors, who are the foundation of our local economy, may not be aware of the fire safety behaviors our full-time residents take for granted.

Finally, it’s easy to think of wildfire as a “rural” problem. In fact, it’s just as much of a problem in our urban areas, as demonstrated in the Marshall Fire in Boulder County in 2021. In 2020, our entire valley was threatened by the Cameron Peak and East Troublesome fires. In 2012, we lost 22 homes in the fast-moving Woodland Heights wildfire. This year could be worse.

So, taken together, yes, all my colleagues and I in our fire, emergency management, and law enforcement communities are concerned about what this summer may hold.

So, what can we at your fire district do to be prepared?

First, we’re making sure all our personnel and equipment are as ready as possible. We’ve completed our training refreshers for all our personnel and reoriented our apparatus response to get wildfire-type fire apparatus to all fires more quickly. We’re working with our partners at Larimer County Sheriff Emergency Services, the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, the US Forest Service, and RMNP to respond quickly and in a coordinated manner.

An important component of our fire response is the increasing availability of firefighting aircraft at the county and state levels, if, of course, they aren’t committed elsewhere. You can expect to see aircraft much earlier on wildfires.

Second, we’re working with our partners in the Town of Estes Park and Larimer County to make sure our emergency alert system is ready. Emergency information and evacuations, if they become necessary, are provided by the town and county and our law enforcement partners.

Our role as a fire district is to relay fire conditions information to our dispatch center as quickly as possible and recommend evacuations if necessary. If a wildfire is beyond our capability, we will transition quickly to supporting evacuation and setting up larger, multi-agency fire operations. I can’t stress enough how important it is to sign up for the NOCO Alert system at NOCO Alert.

Third, we will be aggressive in implementing local open-burning restrictions based on local wildfire risk conditions. Of course, we’ll coordinate with our county, state, and federal partners when imposing these restrictions, but the risk of fire spread into our urban areas is greater than in other mountain areas of the front range.

As we did recently with local Stage 1 restrictions, we may act more quickly and for longer than our county, state, and federal partners.

So, what can you do?

1. Click here to register for the NOCO Alert system. This is the best way to get information on local emergency events. If you’re interested in keeping up with fires in our region, Watch Duty is a good resource, as is Pulse Point.
2. Create a comprehensive evacuation plan for your home and business. Larimer County Office of Emergency Management provides great information.
3. Ensure your address sign is visible from the road, noncombustible, and reflective.
4. Request a Home Ignition Zone evaluation, or self-evaluate with the information provided on our website at Wildfire – Estes Valley Fire Protection District.
5. Reduce fuels on your property in alignment with Home Ignition Zone principles.
6. Harden your structure in accordance with Home Ignition Zone principles (screen vents, replace combustible attachments, remove combustibles from under sand on decks, etc.)
7. Observe all fire restrictions.

This year, the stakes are higher than ever. At your fire district, we’re doing all we can to be prepared. By following the steps above, you too can be prepared. By taking a proactive approach to your property, your businesses, and our community, you are not just protecting your homes and businesses; you are protecting your neighbors, our water supply, and the first responders who serve the Estes Valley.