DENVER – Colorado lawmakers on Monday advanced a measure that supporters say would “revolutionize” how the state deals with fires and floods.
The bill would create a five-year $10 million program using weather and wildland-fire behavior prediction technology. The technology could give officials as much as 12 hours notice on the movement of natural disasters, helping with preparations for attack, including how to keep responders safe.
Using the Yarnell Hill Fire in Arizona as an example, supporters of the bill pointed out that the technology would have alerted officials to the direction of the blaze, which may have saved 19 firefighters who were killed when the fire surprisingly turned.
“When disaster strikes, our Coloradans deserve the best,” said Rep. Tracy Kraft-Tharp, D-Arvada, who is co-sponsoring the bill with Republican Sen. Ellen Roberts of Durango.
Roberts added, “Having been through it a couple of times, I can tell you that any amount of time that you are given in advance to deal with that is very much needed.”
The measure passed the House Agriculture, Livestock and Natural Resources Committee Monday by a vote of 10-3. But it faces a budget fight over its price tag.
One thing the bill has going for it is that it allows the state to accept gifts, grants or donations in addition to state funding.
Rep. Don Coram, R-Montrose, said he voted in favor of the bill because it could actually save state dollars over time by having better tools to more efficiently attack disasters.
“I see this bill as one that has the potential of saving a great deal of general-fund dollars, and the fact that you can also use gifts, grants and donations,” Coram said. “I think it will certainly be beneficial to the state in the long run.”
The technology took about 20 years to develop, according to the Boulder-based National Center for Atmospheric Research, which created the technology.
“These Colorado-developed technologies provide Colorado with the unique opportunity to take the lead in putting these systems to work across the state to save lives and property,” said Bill Mahoney, deputy director of NCAR’s research applications laboratory, who testified Monday.
Paul Cooke, director of the Division of Fire Protection and Control, said the technology could be used along with an aerial firefighting fleet that is in development.
“We need to focus on and enhance the effect of our suppression efforts. One of the ways to enhance our suppression efforts is through the use of technology,” Cooke said.
Garry Briese, executive director of the Colorado State Fire Chiefs, said the technology could potentially change the face of fighting fires in Colorado.
“This is a significant effort ... in how we think about how we fight these fires,” Briese said.
“This is not just about the technology, it’s about how we think and how we utilize the technology to make better command decisions.”