By Terry Stokka
The cooler, wetter weather in late May could have lulled residents into a false sense of security that our fire problems are behind us, but we must not let that happen.
The Black Forest Fire Department and the Friends of Black Forest have teamed up to inform and assist Black Forest residents with mitigation plans for their properties to help minimize the potential for devastating fires and destruction. The fire department also maintains a useful website at https://bffire.org with articles and instructions not only on mitigation, but also on steps residents can take to prepare for a possible evacuation.
The fire department and the Friends of Black Forest have met several times to strategize and select the best materials to present on the website. On May 16, they held a public meeting to discuss these issues.
In addition to fire mitigation, Dr. Judith von Ahlefeldt, a resident forest ecologist, has contributed valuable information on beetle control. Her guidance is especially relevant this spring, as the area has seen an explosion of beetle activity. Unless every resident checks their property, the outbreak could spread exponentially and devastate our beautiful ponderosa pine trees.
Visit the fire department website — contains highly useful information and resources.
