Let’s review some of the essentials to prepare for fire season. Of course, we all hope it won’t happen to our home, community or local areas of beauty. But, past wildfires and the recent Marshall fire make it clear that being prepared is our best defense.
As you may be aware, wildfires are not so seasonal anymore. Meeker Fire and Rescue Chief Luke Pelloni says our area is usually protected during the winter if the snow comes and stays on the ground, but conditions vary every year. Last year, the Meeker Fire and Rescue’s biggest fire occurred in April. The local wildfire fire season is likely to start about now. So don’t wait to prepare.
In recent summers, the Meeker community has experienced around 30 fires reported per day, says BLM White River Field Office Fire Management Officer Kyle Frary. We are fortunate to have local firefighting staff at the district level, county emergency management, and White River District Office of Bureau of Land Management.
The way fires behave is changing too. Rio Blanco County Emergency Resources Manager Eddie Smercina notes that fires used to calm down at dark but now they burn day and night. Of course, fighting fires when the targeted area is invisible is challenging for responders plus they can’t get air support at night.
Did you know that wildfires can create their own weather? This includes conditions such as lots of wind at the fire’s edge. Due to climate change and constant droughts, aspen groves with their extensive root systems do not retard fires in the way they used to.
Now fires tend to burn downhill, not uphill. I surely do not understand that, but the point is, don’t assume history is a predictor of current conditions. Stay vigilant, prepared and informed.
Here’s one of the wonderful things about our small communities, including Meeker, Rangely, Rifle and Craig. The responders from all of the local towns work cooperatively. If there’s a fire, the first available and nearby crews report for duty, no matter the official jurisdiction of each entity.
Keep in mind that the Meeker Fire and Rescue staff is composed of 44 volunteers who must leave family and their jobs if employers permit to assist and must pay for their personal vehicle gas. The White River BLM field office includes 14 permanent firefighters. When our season is at low ebb, they deploy nationally to back up others.
The Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office includes trained firefighters who deploy when needed. They also provide vital communications to and among responders along with keeping residents informed.
Getting further firefighting assistance from the state or feds when needed requires meeting complex criteria. Because our communities have small populations compared to many other Colorado towns, we are lower on the totem pole when it comes to acquiring higher level firefighting resources during intense fire seasons.
Across the U.S. more wildfires have popped up on the wildland/urban interface where homes are adjacent to public lands or forests. Many of us in northwest Colorado reside near lots of trees or public lands and need to be especially vigilant. Suggestions to protect your property will be covered in another article.
The Marshall fire shows us how quickly a fire with intense winds can spread from home to home in urban areas. Some 1,000 homes burned to the ground in one day. Most residents lost not only their house, but all of their possessions and are still in a dire state of recovery.
So, let’s devote some time to mitigating fire danger as best we can. If you wait to the last moment, it may be too late. As the Boy Scouts say, “Be Prepared.”
This series continues next week with tips on how to sign up for emergency notifications, how to report fires, and ways to remain informed about active fires.
With grateful thanks to Meeker Fire and Rescue Chief Luke Pelloni, Rio Blanco County Emergency Resources Manager Eddie Smercina and BLM Fire Management Officer Kyle Frary.
By KAYE SULLIVAN – Special to the Herald Times
