Itís that time of year when thoughts start turning to outdoor activities. Check out these ideas from the Falcon Fire Protection District that benefit residents and firefighters alike ñ and make the summer a safe one.Poorly marked address? FFPD can help!Imagine trying to locate an unreadable or nonexistent address during an emergency situation when seconds can make a difference for a critically ill or injured patient. Emergency responders experience that scenario all too often.Vernon Champlin, Falcon Fire Protection District fire marshal, said unmarked or poorly marked addresses, especially in rural areas, can cause delays for fire and EMS crews. Active structure or wildland fires can usually be seen from the road, but medical calls often cannot. He described instances when crews drove right by an address not because they didnít know their district, but because the address numbers were faded or obscured to the point they were illegible or missing altogether. In some cases, a dispatcher had to radio the responders with information like, ìThe calling party says you passed the house. You need to turn around and go back.îFortunately, there is a solution. For a $20 donation, FFPD will install address signposts for residents whose properties are within district boundaries. These sturdy signposts, which are also used by the U.S. Forest Service, are made of all-weather, brown fiberglass with white reflective numbers on both sides. The donation covers the cost of materials, as well as installation of the post at the driveway entrance to the property; the district is not making any profit from this endeavor.To request an address sign, download a form at the FFPD website (http://falconfirepd.org). Residents who donít have computer access can pick up a form from FFPD headquarters at 7030 Old Meridian Road. Return the completed form and payment to FFPD headquarters in person or by mail.Once the sign is made, firefighters will install it at the property.Champlin said the address sign program is a great way for residents to help firefighters to better assist them.Spring into mitigationWildfire prediction models are showing the potential for another active wildfire season, especially in grassland areas.†FFPD firefighters encourage all residents, whether they live in the grasslands or in forested areas, to make wildfire mitigation a part of spring cleanup. Mitigation ideas and information:National Wildfire Community Preparedness Day: In an effort to raise awareness about wildfires and reduce the risk of catastrophic fires, the National Fire Protection Association is launching its first National Wildfire Community Preparedness Day on May 3. The NFPA encourages individuals, groups and communities to tackle projects that can help protect homes, neighborhoods and entire communities from wildfires and the devastating effects. Even small mitigation projects can make a big difference. For more information and a full list of project ideas, go to http://wildfireprepday.org. On Twitter, use the hashtag #WildfirePrepDay to find updates and spread the word.Mitigation and vegetation management: There is an abundance of wildfire mitigation information available on the FFPD website at http://falconfirepd.org. Just click on the ìWildland Mitigationî button on the right side of the home page to access articles and videos.FFPDís ìHomeownerís Guide to Vegetation Managementî is one of the documents available. It provides recommendations for creating and maintaining defensible spaces around homes, and details mitigation measures that should be taken within 10, 20, and 30 feet of structures. Landscaping plants resistant to wildfire are also described.FFPD firefighters can help homeowners with wildland fire mitigation assessments of their properties. Call Champlin at 719-495-4050 with any questions or to schedule an appointment.Black Forest slash-mulch program: The Black Forest Slash-Mulch Program site for slash drop-off and mulch pickup is located at the southeast corner of Herring Road and Shoup Road. According to the programís website (http://bfslash.org), the site only accepts tree and brush debris. Stumps, roots, weeds, grass, lumber trash, etc. are not accepted. Maximum length is 6 feet, and maximum diameter is 8 inches. Needles do not need to be removed. Make sure loads are securely tied while in transit.Because of last yearís fire, the increased intake of slash and the cost of grinding; there will be a charge of $2 per load this year.People who wish to drop off slash are asked to complete an information form on the first trip of the year. The form can be downloaded from the website and completed in advance to speed up the process.Slash will be accepted May 3 through Sept. 27.Tuesday and Thursday evenings:††5 – 7:30 p.m.Saturdays: 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.Sundays:††12 – 4 p.m.Call 719-520-7878 for additional information.FFPD hosts bicycle rodeosFFPD firefighters and EMS personnel will host bicycle rodeos at three local elementary schools. These events are designed to teach children bicycle safety while having fun.All participants wear helmets and go through a bicycle safety check. They learn to maintain control of the bike at different speeds and while navigating straight lines, serpentines and figure eights. Organizer Matt Gibbs, an FFPD firefighter who also is a former teacher, said the design of the bike rodeo evolved over several years and is still evolving. A few years ago, he said he put the bike rodeo into ìlesson planî and ìstudent learning objectivesî formats so that ìteachers and parents could see that safety on bikes is also a part of education and learning.î†Bike rodeos are scheduled at Woodmen Hills, Meridian Ranch and Falcon Elementary schools May 5, 6, and 8 respectively.Black Forest and Falcon fire districts represented at national conferenceIn March, Champlin and Bob Harvey, Black Forest fire chief, gave a presentation about the Black Forest fire at the 2014 Wildland Urban Interface Conference in Reno, Nev. According to the conferenceís website, the event ìbrings together leaders from the local, state and federal levels to collaborate against the fastest growing fire threat in the worldóthe wildland/urban interface.îChamplin and Harvey discussed wildland fire prevention and mitigation efforts in place prior to the fire, as well as the conditions that led to the fire becoming the most destructive in Colorado history. They also talked about what they learned in the areas of planning, operations and post-incident operations. Champlin said attendees from fire departments across the country, including western jurisdictions facing similar situations, were appreciative and provided positive feedback. Some even said theirs was the best presentation of the conference.Firefighters continually learn from one another about what went right and what could have been done better during major incidents. Champlin said, ìItís our responsibility to share those lessons learned.î
