By Rebecca Samulski
Montezuma County Fire Chiefs’ Association
Recent local fires from Canonball to Kernan Creek and across to LaPlata County Road 502 along with the red flag days are good reminders to us all of this fire season. Wildfire does not wait for July. Wildfires are a natural part of our ecosystem in southwest Colorado forests, sage, and grasslands, and they can occur anytime there is no snow on the ground. Fire is as much a part of our landscape as Mesa Verde. And like those who settled this valley, we must adapt our way of life to fit the environment in which we live.
Adaptation should be nothing new to us in the West. Generations before us came here to thrive. Their unconquerable pioneer spirit, present in all of us who live here, is one of the very best parts of our community. It connects us to our neighbors, and those same connections make us resilient. If a neighbor is ill, 10 others take food and offer comfort. If a fire displaces a family, the community is there to provide shelter and support. Resilience is a beautiful thing; it allows us to stand when we should be on our knees.
But we must not wait to adapt to our environment or to develop the connections that make us resilient. Fire does not wait. Mudslides do not wait. Emergencies, in general, do not wait. So it is up to us to prepare and we must do it now.
Create defensible space around your property, prune branches that would allow fire to touch your home, and clear your gutters. Move firewood at least 30 feet from your home and remove the stuff stored under your deck. Make a plan to evacuate your family in the event of an emergency and develop a kit to take with you. Talk to your neighbors about making their property defensible; our neighborhoods are safer if we all work together.
Resources are available if you are in need of assistance. The Montezuma County Fire Chiefs Association offers free home assessments and one-on-one advice. FireWise of Southwest Colorado has a Neighborhood Ambassador Program and Chipper Rental Rebate Program. The Colorado State Forest Service has a great library of resources tailored to homeowners and our Colorado landscapes at http://csfs.colostate.edu/pages/wildfire.html. Contact Becca at 564-7860 or email montezumafirewise@gmail.com to get more information about any of these programs or resources.
Part of living in the West is living with wildfire. We can, and must, change our perspective to include wildfire as a part of our landscape. We must also recognize that by being prepared we can reduce the negative impacts of wildfire to our community while letting wildfires do their job. But please don’t wait. The fire won’t.
Rebecca Samulski is the Wildfire Prevention and Education Specialist for the Montezuma County Fire Chiefs’ Association and also serves as the Montezuma and Dolores County Chapter Coordinator for FireWise of Southwest Colorado. Adapted with permission from an article by Annie Shmidt.