October Wildfire Awareness Month and California
While Boulder County residents were taking action in conjunction with Wildfire Awareness Month, we were saddened by events in California. The loss of more than 40 lives in, collectively, the most deadly wildfires in California history was shocking in part because we have not lost any lives in recent Boulder County wildfires. Moreover, CNBC reports that 53 people remained missing in Sonoma County alone, although there are also wildfires in Napa, Mendocino, Lake, Butte, and several other Northern California Fires.
The potential loss of life is an important driver of wildfire mitigation and preparedness efforts. Our Wildfire Partners assessment includes key sections on 1) emergency preparedness where we discuss evacuation plans, emergency notification, communications with loved ones, evacuation of pets, and properly installed address markers, and 2) community involvement where we stress the importance of working with and supporting your neighbors. In 2018, we will talk even more about how Wildfire Partners can provide assistance to neighbors who require help in evacuations.
The mitigation you complete with Wildfire Partners can significantly increase the chance your home will survive future wildfires. Let’s do all we can together to help ensure that we do not lose lives as well.
A woman looks out at the destruction caused
by the Tubbs fire while holding items of emotional importance salvaged
from her childhood home in the Coffey Park neighborhood on October 15,
2017, in Santa Rosa, California. (Photo via Getty Images)
2017 Wildfire Partners Tour of Homes
On Saturday, September 30, 2017, Wildfire Partners and Program Participants held open houses for homeowners in the program to show off their mitigation work. Twenty program participants opened up their homes to the public.
The tour offered an opportunity for Boulder County residents in the foothills and mountains to become educated about the ever-present threat of wildfire in Boulder County and about the program. The tour also helps to promote neighbor to neighbor interaction and community resilience. Thanks to all who attended the tour and we commend you for being leaders in your community. View the video from Denver 7 News.
Team Rubicon, the United Way, and Wildfire Partners Collaboration near Nederland
On the weekend of September 8-10, 2017, Team Rubicon, Wildfire Partners, The United Way and Boulder County Volunteers assisted three homeowners in the Boulder County Wildfire Partners Program to better protect their homes from the threat of wildfire. The efforts took place near Nederland, Colorado.
A hardy bunch of dedicated folks were working to remove surface fuels such as Juniper bushes, shrubs, slash, grasses, as well as individual trees to help these mountain homeowners create defensible space zones around their residences. Approximately 883 cubic feet of fuel was removed that weekend from the three Wildfire Partners properties alone.
When it comes to wildfire, it is not a matter of “if” but “when” one will occur, and mitigation is imperative to help protect homes, lives, properties and communities and to provide a safer environment for our first responders to help suppress fires when they occur. Team Rubicon also dedicated resources that weekend to assist mountain residents recover after losing their homes during the 2016 Cold Springs Fire.
Wildfire Partners would like to thank Team Rubicon for their dedication and commitment to mitigation and recovery and for the resources to assist with these important efforts. View more photos on the Team Rubicon - Region 8 Facebook page.
Some of the folks who worked to remove surface fuels
such as Juniper bushes, shrubs, slash, grasses, as well as individual
trees to help mountain homeowners create defensible space zones
around their residences.
Win Prizes in the Wildfire Partners Photo Contest - Deadline is October 31!
Wildfire Partners is hosting a photo contest as part of Wildfire Awareness Month! We want to bring attention to the outstanding wildfire mitigation work by Boulder County residents. There are two contest categories:
- Send in an action photo of you, your family, or friends performing mitigation, and we will randomly draw 20 lucky winners who will receive a $100 gift card to either McGuckin Hardware or Indian Peaks Ace Hardware.
- The second photo contest is to showcase before and after efforts. Send a before and after photo of your mitigation work to be entered to win one of 10 $250 gift cards to either McGuckin Hardware or Indian Peaks Ace Hardware.
There are three ways to enter the contest:
- Facebook: Like Wildfire Partners on Facebook and post a picture on our page with the hashtag #MitigationInAction
- Twitter: Follow Wildfire Partners on Twitter and post a picture on our page with the hashtag #MitigationInAction
- Website: Send in a photo through our website.
The contest will end Tuesday, October 31, 2017 at 5 p.m. The drawing for the prizes will take place on Friday, November 3, 2017. We will share your photos on our website and through social media to encourage others to actively participate in mitigation. Your odds of winning a raffle may never be so high!
See more information at www.WildfirePartners.org/photo-contest , and view photo contest entries from last year.
Submit an action photo of your mitigation work, or before and after mitigation photos, and you can win prizes!
