The March 2019 blizzard, classified as a ìbomb cycloneî in meteorological terms, resulted in snowmageddon-like mayhem in the northern and eastern parts of the county and state. As with other blizzards in recent years, Falcon firefighters were in the thick of the storm.The National Weather Service in Pueblo began advance announcements for a potentially severe winter storm as early as March 9. By March 12, all of El Paso County was under a blizzard warning set to go into effect at 10:00 a.m. on March 13. That morning dawned deceptively calm, but once the storm ramped up, it did so with speed and ferocity. Travel conditions deteriorated rapidly. El Paso County officials estimated that 1,100 vehicles were stranded during the storm.Falcon firefighters received their first stranded motorist call just before 11 a.m. on March 13. After that, pagers began alerting minutes apart throughout the day and into the evening. District personnel are still sorting through the data, but it is estimated that more that 250 calls for service occurred within the Falcon Fire Protection Districtís jurisdiction in 36 hours; which is more than the district sees during a typical month. Stranded motorists comprised the bulk of the blizzard-related calls.Falcon firefighters were not just dealing with an extremely unusual volume of dispatch notifications, though. The direct fire department phone line rang nearly nonstop for hours with requests for rescues or welfare checks on family members, as well as questions about road conditions, when power would be restored, when specific roads would be plowed, or if the fire department would deliver supplies to stranded residents.If firefighters were even available to answer the phones, the answer was often simply, ìWe donít know.î FFPD personnel typically do not have any more information than what is already being disseminated to the general public. In fact, firefighters rely on many public information, including websites and social media for news outlets, weather, road conditions, utility outages and more.FFPD has a finite number of firefighters and apparatus available, and life-threatening emergencies received top priority. However, there were times when firefighters could not get to people who needed assistance. Like other vehicles, large fire engines and four-wheel drive utility trucks could not travel on roads made impassable by drifted snow, poor or no visibility or multitudes of stuck vehicles blocking roadways. Responding to calls for help was a challenge for all emergency responders that day.Snowcat tracked vehicles from El Paso County Search and Rescue, Colorado Springs Utilities, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and others assisted with rescues across the county. However, it took time for these crews to deploy and then make their way to each location of a reported emergency or stranded motorist.The same poor road conditions that stranded drivers also hampered fire department responses. FFPD Capt. Kirt described difficulties in seeing street signs and recognizing landmarks to find addresses. Streets were clogged with stuck and abandoned vehicles, and firefighters often didnít know a road was blocked until they were right at the obstruction. Their own vehicle became stuck twice en route to calls and had to be pulled out by another FFPD vehicle. ìIt was frustrating,î he said.One FFPD fire engine was stuck on Constitution Avenue for about 10 hours, not in a snowdrift but because it was blocked in by other stranded vehicles. After it stopped for cars in the road ahead, other vehicles continued to drive around the fire truck and got stuck. Left with an engine and crew that could go nowhere, Lt. David Hawkins said, ìWe made the best of our situation.î He and his crew checked on stranded motorists and flagged around 60 vehicles with caution tape as they waited for conditions to improve.A FFPD four-wheel drive brush truck became stuck in deep snow at Patriot High School after delivering a stranded motorist to the Red Cross shelter there. After trying unsuccessfully to dig out, the crew crossed Highway 24 on foot to return to their fire station. They held on to each otherís coats to maintain contact in the gale-force wind and blinding snow. They returned later to free the stuck vehicle. That evening, members of the same crew paired up with snowcat operators to continue emergency responses and rescues. Two of the snowcats suffered mechanical issues and temporarily stranded the rescuers.Firefighter Cody Richins, who was recently hired by the district, commented that part of being a firefighter means not knowing what to expect from one day to the next. Of his blizzard experience, he said, ìI had no idea Iíd be riding around in a snowcat for 15 hours.îDespite the challenges and difficulties, firefighters also shared stories about private citizens helping each other and assisting emergency responders.
- Citizen volunteers drove stranded motorists to the King Soopers on Constitution Avenue, which graciously allowed its store to be used as a temporary shelter.
- People provided granola bars, hot chocolate and bottled water to the stranded fire crew, and a chef made them a hot meal once they returned to the fire station.
- A family opened their home to a rescue team after their snowcat broke down, and even fed the crew breakfast.
| Save the date for the Easter Bunny! |
| Falcon Fire Department and Woodmen Hills are teaming up once more for the annual Easter Egg Hunt, which will be held April 20, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Fire Station 1 (12072 Royal County Down Road). The egg hunt starts at 10:30 a.m. There will be a variety of childrenís activities, and the Humble BBQ food truck will be on site for food purchases. Check the Falcon Fire Department Facebook page (@FalconFireDept) for updates. |
