Colorado State Forest Service District Offices (Addresses and Phone Numbers on Back of this Page)
http://csfs.colostate.edu/pages/wildfire.html The Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) maintains 17 districts throughout Colorado. District Foresters are your primary point of contact for service. We are a division of the Warner College of Natural Resources at Colorado State University (CSU). Our headquarters is located on the CSU's foothills campus in Fort Collins.
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CSFS Directory CSFS Wildland Fire Management
State Office
State Office: Foothills Campus, Bldg. 1049; Campus Delivery 5060; Colorado State University; Fort Collins, CO 80523-5060
Foothills Campus, Bldg. 1050; Campus Delivery 5060; Colorado State University; Fort Collins, CO 80523-5060 (970) 491-6303
(970) 491-8538
(970) 491-7736 FAX
(970) 491-3445 FAX District
Address
Phone
Granby District
Address
Phone Numbers
PO Box 69 201 E. Jasper Ave. Granby, CO 80446-0069
(970) 887-3121 FAX (970) 887-3150
Alamosa
P.O. Box 1137 129-A Santa Fe Alamosa, CO 81101-1137
(719) 587-0915 Grand Junction (719) 587-0917 FAX (719) 587-0916
State Services Building 222 South 6th Street, Room 416 Grand Junction, CO 81501-2771
(970) 248-7325 FAX (970) 248-7317
Boulder
5625 Ute Highway Longmont, CO 80503-9130
(303) 823-5774 Gunnison FAX (303) 823-5768
PO Box 1390, Mountain Meadows Research Center 106 Maintenance Drive Gunnison, CO 81230
(970) 641-6852 FAX (970) 641-0653
Cañon City
515 McDaniel Boulevard Industrial Park Cañon City, CO 81212-4164
(719) 275-6865 La Junta (719) 275-7002 FAX (719) 275-6853
1904 San Juan Ave. Otero Community College Campus La Junta, CO 81050
(719) 383-5780 FAX (719) 383-5787
Durango
FLC 7233, 1000 Rim Drive Fort Lewis College Campus Durango, CO 81301-3908
(970) 247-5250 La Veta FAX (970) 247-5252
PO Box 81 Moore and Poplar Streets La Veta, CO 81055-0081
(719) 742-3588 FAX (719) 742-5502
Fort Collins
Foothills Campus, Bldg. 1052 Campus Delivery 5060 Colorado State University Fort Collins, CO 80523-5060
(970) 491-8660 Montrose FAX (970) 491-8645
102 Par Place, Suite 1 Montrose, CO 81401-4196
(970) 249-9051 FAX (970) 249-5718
Fort Morgan
P.O Box 368 Fort Morgan, CO 80701-3638
(970) 867-5610 Salida FAX (970) 867-0361
7980 West Highway 50 Salida, CO 81201-9571
(719) 539-2579 FAX (719) 539-2570
Franktown
PO Box 485 2068 N. State Hwy. 83 Franktown, CO 80116-0485
(303) 660-9625 Steamboat Springs PO Box 773657 FAX (303) 688-2919 1475 Pine Grove Road, Ste. 201A Steamboat Springs, CO 80477-3657
(970) 879-0475 FAX (970) 879-2517
Golden
1504 Quaker Street Golden, CO 80401-2956
(303) 279-9757 Woodland Park PO Box 9024 (303) 279-2011 113 South Boundary FAX (303) 278-3899 Woodland Park, CO 80866-9024
(719) 687-2951 (719) 687-2921 FAX (719) 687-9584
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Wildfire Response in Colorado
Wildfires occur as unscheduled emergency events. The role of the state is to provide technical advice and assistance to local government, assume the management of wildfires that exceed the capacity of local governments upon the request of the sheriff or when wildfires threaten to become state emergencies or disasters, and at all times, provide for the safety of firefighters and the public. Fire Starts
Local Response
WERF Implemented
County Sheriff or Fire Department Requests
Initial response comes from local fire departments; fire protection districts; sheriffs offices; USFS, BLM, NPS, FWS, BIA.
Fire Protection District
Federal Local Responsibility
County Responsibility
CSFS may provide technical assistance during initial response and will provide state resources upon request.
CSFS Billing Services Used
Local/State Resources Used
Fire Exceeds County Capacity
CSFS Billing Services Used
Sheriff Requests CSFS to Manage
CSFS Manages
CSFS notifies DEM, Gov’s Office, DNR, CSU
EFF Implemented
FEMA potential evaluated
Agreements between CSFS, federal agencies, and counties provide a path for local fire departments to participate in fire response outside their local jurisdiction.
EFF Depleted
Governor Executive Order
Fire is returned to Sheriff’s Control
Fire Extinguished
Fire is Controlled
Wildland fire response is implemented through 6 Interagency Dispatch Centers.
Governor’s Staff and CSFS Staff Draft Order
Annual Operating Plans established with all responding agencies in a County facilitate coordinated response. CSFS is the lead state agency for wildland fire management (Colorado Emergency Operating Plan
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Key Documents
1. CSFS/County Cooperative Fire Protection Agreement. 2. CSFS/County Emergency Fire Fund Agreement. 3. County Annual Operating Plan. 4. Wildfire Emergency Response Fund. 5. County Wildfire Preparedness Plan. 6. Cooperative Resource Rate Forms. 7. Engine Agreement for Loaned Engines. Fire Briefing 2011
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Brief Overview of Wildfire Suppression in Colorado 1973 Colorado Revised Statue, as amended: 23‐31‐202 Powers and duties of State Board of Agriculture; 23‐31‐203 Cooperation with governmental units; 23‐31‐204 Forest fires 23‐31‐206 Cooperative agreements; 23‐31‐304 State responsibility determined.
Local and County Responsibilities: Fire Protection District Responsibilities: The 2009 Legislature passed SB09‐020 which became CRS 29‐ 22.5.101 – 104. Section 103 of this statute describes the general authority and responsibilities of Fire Protection Districts and County Sheriffs. Sheriff Responsibilities: Colorado law identifies the sheriff as the fire warden for the county and the individual ultimately responsible for controlling and extinguishing prairie and forest fires on private & state lands within that county. (CRS 30‐10‐513) The state forestry role is to aid and assist the sheriff and county fire departments with this responsibility. The Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) fulfills this role by providing training, equipment, technical assistance, and funding; and facilitating interagency mutual aid agreements and annual operating plans. County fire planning ‐ CSFS may assist County Commissioners and the County Sheriff in their role to prepare, adopt, and implement a county fire management plan (CRS 30‐11‐124) that details individual county policies on fire management for prescribed burns, fuels management, or natural ignition burns on lands owned by the state or county. Cooperative Agreements – CSFS establishes and maintains cooperative agreements with both federal agencies and counties in Colorado. These agreements provide the framework and basis for the various levels of government to cooperate in wildfire prevention, preparedness, mitigation, response, and administration. The two Primary Agreements are: 1) The Cooperative Fire Management Agreement between the Colorado State Forest Service; the USDA Forest Service; the DOI agencies that include the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Bureau of Reclamation. 2) The Cooperative Fire (Watershed) Protection Agreement between the Colorado State Forest Service and each of the individual counties. Secondary Agreements – CSFS establishes and maintains agreements with FEMA, counties, and fire departments for the purpose of access to federal assistance, administering county funds, providing equipment. 1) FEMA /State Agreement. CSFS is authorized by the Governor as the primary point of contact with FEMA when wildfires pose an imminent threat to life and property. CSFS requests and, if awarded, administers FEMA Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAG). FMAGs provide for up to 75% of eligible costs in the suppression of catastrophic wildfires. No F&A (indirect) is assessed. 2) EFF Agreement between CSFS and participating counties. 3) FEPP Equipment Agreement between counties and/or fire departments. Fire Briefing 2011
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Mutual Aid Agreements & Annual Operating Plans ‐ Each year, federal land fire agencies, state forestry, and counties meet to reach agreement on the sharing of firefighters and equipment if wildfires exceed a particular jurisdiction’s resources. The intent of mutual aid is for all fire suppression agencies to work as a team, avoid duplication, and suppress wildfires efficiently. The Annual Operating Plan defines the limits of interagency cooperation, and contains a mobilization plan that identifies the location and availability of firefighters and equipment. Interagency Incident Management Teams ‐ Once a wildland fire burns beyond the initial and extended attack capabilities of local forces, the local responsible agency often requests management assistance in the form of a local Incident Management Group or a Type II or Type I Incident Management Team. These teams are available across the nation; the Rocky Mountain Area currently has one Type I team, three Type II teams, and one Fire Use team. Rocky Mountain area teams are interagency, consisting of individuals from the private sector, local fire departments, counties, state and federal agencies. Emergency Fire Fund (EFF) ‐ This fund was established in 1967 by Counties that recognized that some wildfires may exceed the counties resources and ability to manage. Participation in the EFF is voluntary. A 9 person committee comprised of county commissioners, sheriffs, fire chiefs, and the state forester oversees the administration of the fund. 43 Colorado counties and the Denver Water Board contribute to EFF. A county’s annual assessment for EFF is calculated using a formula based on the acreage of private watershed and the annual property tax valuation. Counties with large amounts of private watershed land and a high assessed valuation pay more into the fund than rural counties with large acreage of federal lands and low assessed valuation. Emergency funding requests must originate from the county sheriff and State Forester approval is required. Once accepted, an EFF fire is managed under the direction of CSFS. No F&A (indirect) is assessed. Wildfire Emergency Response Fund (WERF) CRS 23‐31‐309 This State of Colorado fund was first designated and funded by the state legislature in 2002 reimburses a fire department or county for the first retardant load on state & private land initial attack fires at the request of the County Sheriff, Municipal Fire Chief, or Fire Protection District. In 2006 the legislature expanded authorities in the WERF to include reimbursement of 2 days of handcrew use with preference to state inmate crews. The goal is reduced suppression cost by attacking fires quickly to keep them small. No F&A (indirect) is assessed. The Wildfire Preparedness Fund (WPF) and the Wildfire Emergency Response Fund (WERF) are authorized in Colorado Revised Statute 23‐31‐309. WPD provides for the availability and management of resources. Those resources include Single Engine Air Tankers, state wildland fire engines, inmate hand crews, and National Guard resources when needed. WPF also supports Fire Management Officers, Fire Program Managers, CSFS Equipment Shop Operations, shelters for fire departments, interagency dispatch centers, state wildfire communication, prescribed fire management, and hazard fuels reduction. WPF was established in 2006 and operates on an annual budget of $3.25 million. Appropriations expire in 2011 The value of WPF is the ability to have resources available through contract or agreement on a consistent basis and manage them responsibly based on current and predicted wildfire activity.
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BRIEFING PAPER: WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS FUND November 29, 2010 ISSUE The Wildfire Preparedness Fund in Colorado was authorized by the 2006 Legislature through Senate Bill 06-096, which also appropriated funding for state fiscal years 2006 through 2011 to support implementation of the actions directed by the legislation. Re-appropriation of the Wildfire Preparedness Fund – The preparedness fund provides consistency in funding over time that allows for efficiencies of scale when contracting for resources and providing technical assistance and operational support. The flexibility afforded in the statutory language for rolling over unused portions of the annual fund allotment allows program managers to plan for worst-case scenarios, but implement only what is immediately necessary to address the current fire season. The Wildfire Preparedness Fund provides for consistent funding that supports state owned and operated resources.
Continuation of the implementation directed in CRS 23-31-310 will require the 2011 Legislature to re-appropriate funds for the next five years (state fiscal years 2012 through 2016).
WildlandUrban Interface
THE VALUE OF WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS TO COLORADO Wildfires do not recognize political boundaries. When conditions are right, wildfires burn with equal intensity and destructive power on private, state, tribal, and federal land.
Wildfires require that the resources of all public sectors be prepared to respond when the alarm sounds.
Single Engine Air Tanker
The Wildfire Preparedness Fund provides for consistent coordination, resource availability, and framework for volunteer fire departments, fire protection districts, county sheriffs and emergency managers, state resources, and federal agencies to obtain the resources necessary to battle wildfires.
High Profile Fires — Numerous wildland fires have occurred in Colorado during the past several years that illustrate the trend toward larger, more destructive fires. The Fourmile Canyon Fire in Boulder County this past September; the 2004 Picnic Rock in Larimer County; the 2009 Grammar Fire in Montrose County; the 2008 Ordway Fire in Crowley County; the 2007 New Castle Fire in Garfield County; and the 2006 Mato Vega Fire in Costilla and Huerfano counties are a few examples of large wildland fires in Colorado in recent years. It is important to note that some of these fires occurred in months not historically associated with high fire danger.
State Wildland Inmate Fire Team
These high-profile fires are a small part of the story, as they only reflect the 2 percent of wildfires that escaped extended attack and grew to exceed more than 100 acres. The communities, landowners, natural resources, and other values at risk affected by such fires benefit significantly from the coordination of resources across jurisdictions; such coordination is made possible by the Wildfire Preparedness Fund. The story these fires don’t tell is that 98 percent of fires are contained or controlled before they exceed 100 acres because state resources, including engines and single engine air tankers (SEATs), National Guard ground and aviation resources, state correctional wildfire crews, and state fire management officers were readily available to coordinate responses among all jurisdictions. During the past 10 years, Colorado has experienced an average of 2,297 fires on private and state land per year and 40 of those fires exceeded 100 acres.
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State Wildland Engine
Federal Excess Property Engine loaned to Fire Department
The Wildfire Preparedness Fund appropriation is essential to the consistency and continuity of wildland fire management resources. The Fund enables the Colorado State Forest Service to secure and manage the availability of aerial fire resources, hire wildland engine crews, train and equip inmate handcrews, support National Guard resources, coordinate non-federal resources in the national interagency dispatch system, train volunteer fire departments and fire protection districts, and support interagency Incident Command Teams. The legislation also allows the funds to be used to help mitigate fire risk. During the past four years (2010 statistics not included), the Wildfire Preparedness Fund has provided: • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Single Engine Air Tanker Program that sent aerial resources to 307 separate fires; Fire Management Officers who facilitated Annual Operating Plans with 45 counties; Entry of fire department resources into the interagency Resource Ordering and Statusing System (ROSS); Interagency Wildland Fire Dispatch Centers supported by state seasonal dispatchers; State Wildfire Engines that responded to 235 fires in Colorado, 47 fuels mitigation projects, and 43 assists to other states; Colorado Corrections Wildland Inmate Fire Crews who responded to 132 fires and more than 30 fuels mitigation projects; New generation fire shelters for Wildland Inmate Fire Crews; Conversion by the CSFS of 140 Federal Excess Property Program (FEPP) vehicles to wildland engines that are on loan to fire departments; Colorado National Guard support that included equipping Chinook and Blackhawk helicopters with firefighting equipment; Computer kits and other equipment to Interagency Incident Management Teams; Wildland fire training for Volunteer Fire Departments and Fire Protection Districts; Protective equipment, including 509 new generation fire shelters for volunteer firefighters; and Coordination of wildfire protection with counties, states, and federal agencies; county, state, federal, and interstate agreements provided the framework for cooperative, coordinated response.
THE COST OF PREPAREDNESS The 2006 Colorado Legislature provided an annual appropriation of $3.25 million per year for five years. Wildland fire preparedness typically is planned for and managed on a calendar year basis. The CSFS has managed the Wildfire Preparedness Fund to support preparedness through the 2011 calendar year. Without re-appropriation by the 2011 Legislature, to take effect in July 2011, continued availability of SEATs, engine crews, FMOs, support of inmate crews, and other services for the 2012 calendar year will be severely compromised. Absent adequate preparedness, it is reasonable to project that more fires will escape initial and extended attack, become larger, do more damage, and be costlier to suppress.
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COLORADO FIRE FACTS • An average of 2,297 wildfires occur on state and private land each year. • 98 percent of wildfires are contained at less than 100 acres. • County sheriffs and Fire Protection Districts are responsible for the control or extinguishment of wildfires. • 17 percent of wildfires are caused by lightning. • More than 400 fire departments, counties, state, tribal, and federal agencies cooperate in wildfire protection. • Wildfire response is supported through 6 interagency dispatch centers. • Large wildfire costs can exceed $1 million per day. • Colorado counties contribute $1 million annually for wildfire suppression. • The State of Colorado has contributed, on average, $2.7 million annually for wildfire suppression that has exceeded county capabilities (fiveyear average). For more information, contact: Richard Homann Fire Division Supervisor Colorado State Forest Service
[email protected]
