HOW CAN I FIND OUT ABOUT FIRE RESTRICTIONS?

INFORMATION IS POSTED ON THE FIRE INFORMATION CHALKBOARD NEXT TO THE POST OFFICE.  YOU CAN ALSO CALL 719-942-3687.

HOW CAN I OBTAIN PERMISSION TO BURN OUTDOORS?

CALL 719-942-3687.  IN TIMES OF ELEVATED FIRE DANGER, OUTDOOR FIRES MAY BE ALLOWED AFTER SNOWFALL OR AREA-WIDE RAINFALL.  PERMISSION TO BURN WILL DEPEND ON SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES. EXPECT TO BE ASKED WHAT YOU ARE BURNING, HOW LARGE THE FIRE WILL BE, AND WHETHER YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THE FIRE.

THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS TO CONSIDER MANY FACTORS INCLUDING THE DRYNESS OF WILDLAND FUELS, THE LENGTH OF TIME NEEDED TO COMPLETE A BURN, AND THE WEATHER FORECAST.

FOR EXAMPLE, BURNING WOOD CAN PRODUCE COALS THAT SMOLDER FOR DAYS.  IF NOT PROPERLY EXTINGUISHED WITH WATER AND HAND TOOLS, A WIND EVENT CAN BLOW EMBERS INTO ADJACENT FUELS AND START A WILDFIRE.

NEVER FORGET THAT YOU ARE LEGALLY LIABLE FOR ALL DAMAGE CAUSE BY A WILDFIRE, AND THAT LARGE FIRES ROUTINELY COST MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO CONTAIN AND CONTROL.

ENFORCEMENT OF FIRE RESTRICTIONS PROTECTS THE INDIVIDUAL WHO WANTS TO BURN FROM LEGAL LIABILITY WHILE IT PORTECTS THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY FROM FIRES THAT CAN BE DEVASTATING.

IT JUST RAINED.  WHY CAN’T I BURN A FIRE OUTDOORS?

RAINFALL IS OFTEN VERY LOCAL AND ONLY FALLS IN A PORTION OF THE FIRE DISTRICT.  FIRE DANGER CAN THEN REMAIN HIGH ELSEWHERE.  EXPERIENCE HAS TAUGHT US THAT A SINGLE COLUMN OF SMOKE OFTEN CAUSES OTHERS TO ASSUME THAT THEY CAN BURN AS WELL.  THIS RESULTS IN BOTH A VIOLATION OF FIRE RESTRICTIONS AND THE DANGER OF A WILDFIRE ESCAPING INTO THE COMMUNITY.  FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL, FIRE RESTRICTIONS WILL ALWAYS APPLY TO THE ENTIRE FIRE DISTRICT.  VIOLATORS CAN EXPECT ENFORCEMENT ACTION.

HOW CAN I REPORT A FIRE?

CALL 911 TO REPORT A FIRE.  IF YOU SUSPECT ILLEGAL BURNING DURING FIRE RESTRICTIONS, YOU CAN ALSO CALL 719-942-3687.  THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY RELIES ON THE VIGILENCE OF ALL.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I SMELL PROPANE INSIDE A BUILDING?

MOST IMPORTANTLY: DON’T TOUCH ANY ELECTRICAL SWITCH OR CORD, APPLIANCE OR TELEPHONE, AND DON’T START ANY MOTOR VEHICE.  THEY CAN ALL PRODUCE SPARKS THAT TRIGGER AN EXPLOSION.  EVEN THE SIMPLE ACT OF TURNING A LIGHT ON OR OFF, OR UNPLUGGING AN APPLIANCE WILL CREATE A DANGEROUS SPARK.

IMMEDIATELY EVACUATE ALL PEOPLE AND ANIMALS FROM THE BUILDING.  IF YOU HAVE A HEATER ON A THERMOSTAT, CLOSE THE DOORS BEHIND YOU SO THAT THE HEATER DOES NOT TURN ON AUTOMATICALLY WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF COLD AIR.

ONCE EVERYONE IS SAFE OUTSIDE, MOVE AWAY FROM THE BUILDING AND CALL 911 FROM A CELLPHONE OR A NEIGHBOR’S HOUSE.

WHEN YOU REPORT THE SMELL OF PROPANE GAS TO THE 911 DISPATCHER, TELL THE DISPATCHER THAT EVERYONE IS OUT OF THE BUILDING.

REMAIN FAR FROM THE BUILDING AND TELL THE FIRST ARRIVING FIREFIGHTERS WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THE SITUATION.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I HEAR A PROLONGED SIREN IN THE VICINITY OF COUNTY ROAD 40 (COTTONWOOD CREEK)?

LONG UNINTERRUPTED SIRENS ARE USED TO WARN RESIDENTS OF POSSIBLE FLOODING FROM THE BURN SCAR OF THE HAYDEN PASS FIRE.  MOVE AWAY FROM THE CREEK AND REMAIN AT A DISTANCE.  BECAUSE SEVERAL STREAMS FEED INTO THE MAIN CREEK, HIGH WATER SURGES CAN OCCUR LATER IN A FLOOD EVENT AFTER THE FIRST HIGH WATER HAS RECEDED.  DON’T GET CAUGHT IN A LATE SURGE OF FLOOD WATER.

DO NOT DRIVE ACROSS A FLOODED ROADWAY.  THE FLOOD MAY HAVE WASHED OUT A PORTION OF THE ROAD THAT IS NOT VISIBLE UNDER THE FLOWING WATER.  YOU CAN BECOME TRAPPED IN YOUR VEHICLE IN A HOLE OR CHANNEL FILLED WITH WATER.

IF YOUR RESIDENCE IS NEAR THE CREEK, HAVE A PLAN TO EVACUATE UPHILL TO SAFETY.  SINCE A FLOOD CAN OCCUR AT NIGHT OR DURING A RAINSTORM, YOUR EVACUATION PLAN SHOULD INCLUDE HAVING A FLASHLIGHT AND RAINGEAR NEAR YOUR EVACUATION DOORWAY.