The Falcon Fire Protection District recorded more than 2,000 alarms in 2014, nearly double the call volume 10 years earlier. FFPD has come a long way from its beginnings as an all-volunteer fire department operating donated equipment out of a barn. Here is a brief look at FFPD by the numbers.
- 113: square miles covered by the fire district. (Its farthest boundaries are north ó County Line Road; south ó a mile north of Highway 94; east ó north Peyton Highway; west ñ- one-half mile west of Marksheffel Road.)
- 29,850: population of the district
- 8.612: current mil levy
- 15: full-time firefighters/EMTs
- 5: part-time firefighters/EMTs
- 11: volunteers (reservists)
- 2,792,917: the dollar amount of the fire districtís 2015 operating budget
- 1975: year the Falcon Volunteer Fire Department was formed
- 1981: the fire protection district was formed to provide revenue for a growing department
- 1997: the first paid chief was hired
- 2000: the first paid firefighters were hired
- 2,015: number of alarms in 2014 (Additionally, the Colorado Springs Fire Department responded to an estimated 100 alarms in FFPD District 4 ó southwest side of the district ó under a Memorandum of Understanding between the two agencies.)
2014 alarms compared to previous years:
- 2000: 704
- 2004: 1,054
- 2005: 1,463
- 2006: 1,685
- 2008: 1,800
- 2013: 1,979
Spirit Lakes: FFPDís second Firewise CommunityOn Jan. 13, FFPD fire marshal Margo Humes presented the Spirit Lakes Homeowners Association with FFPDís second Firewise Community designation.Spirit Lakes residents worked together to mitigate their properties. On May 3, 2014, they participated in the national Wildfire Community Preparedness Day by chipping slash piles using a wood chipper obtained by FFPD for the project.Humes told Spirit Lakes residents this Firewise designation ìopens the doorî for mitigation grants and can even help property values, since some people now specifically look for properties in Firewise communities. She also said USAA (insurance) has a pilot program that gives its California members an insurance discount, if they live in Firewise communities.
El Paso County Open Burning OrdinanceThe El Paso County Board of County Commissioners approved the Open Burning Ordinance (No. 15-001) to regulate open burning activities in unincorporated areas of El Paso County, effective Jan. 15.According to a county press release, Black Forest residents requested the Open Burning Ordinance because they were concerned about large slash piles being burned near their homes.†The press release states that open burning of slash is a low-cost and effective wildfire mitigation method, and the ordinance ìseeks to strike a balance that protects health and safety but still encourages property owners to get rid of dead wood and brush, which is a fire hazard on their land.îThe new ordinance requires a county burn permit so the sheriffís office, El Paso County Public Health and appropriate fire protection districts receive advance notification of the burn. The permit also ensures that sufficient safeguards are in place for public health and safety.†Open Burning Air Quality permits are already required by state law and will continue to be administered by El Paso County Public Health (online application available at http://elpasocountyhealth.org, or call 719-578-3199 for information). Once the Open Burning Air Quality Permit is obtained, a request for an El Paso County Open Burning Permit will automatically be sent to the El Paso County Sheriffís Office.Highlights include (but are not limited to) the following:
- All burns are subject to any fire restrictions in effect.
- Open burns of slash piles are not allowed if predicted or actual winds are 10 mph or greater or when a red flag warning is in effect.
- Slash pile burns above 7,000 feet in elevation are required to have 3 or more inches of snow on the ground around the slash, unless an Air Curtain Destructor is used.
- Open burns are permitted between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
- Adequate means of extinguishment such as a water hose must be available at all times.
- Open burns must be constantly attended to by a competent person.
- Permit holders shall make reasonable efforts to notify neighbors before burning.
- Permit holders must notify the El Paso County Sheriffís Office dispatch center prior to conducting the burn.
A gift of B.A.R.K.Responding to a holiday request for an additional B.A.R.K (Breath of Air Recovery Kit), which contains oxygen masks designed for animals, Falcon canine resident Gomer presented one to the Falcon Fire Department in January. Through his owner, he asked only that the kit be available to help his neighbors; and hopes the gift will inspire people to donate kits to other fire departments as well.The Animal Angels Rescue Foundation provided the B.A.R.K. For more information, go to http://aarfhelp.org or email info@aarfhelp.org.
