Mill levy and fire protection

Town hall meetingsThe Falcon Fire Protection District will be hosting a series of ìtown hallî style meetings in May. The purpose of these meetings is to discuss whether citizens would support a proposed mill levy increase to fund an in-district ambulance service and address other district operational needs.All residents of the fire district are encouraged to attend these public meetings to learn more about how the district operates and why it is considering a mill levy increase.Meetings will be held at FFPD Fire Station 3 at 7030 Old Meridian Road in Falcon (at the corner of Old Meridian Road and U.S. Highway 24). Dates and times:May 2 at 6 p.m.May 19 at 10 a.m.May 31 at 6 p.m.Reminders and any updates will be posted to the districtís website and social media platforms.Wildfire Community Preparedness DayWildfire Community Preparedness Day is May 5, and it is a good time for families and communities to come together to make their homes and neighborhoods safer from wildfires.As witnessed during recent wildfires in El Paso County, there are times when hot, fast-moving wildfires result in structures being lost; despite firefighter efforts. But preparing homes and properties for wildfires gives firefighters a chance to successfully defend them. Creating defensible space and mitigating fire risks are key elements for structure survivability in both forested areas and prairie grasslands.Here are some simple projects to start with:

• Rake and remove pine needles and dry leaves within a minimum of 3-to-5 feet of a homeís foundation, and up to a 30-foot distance around the structure.
• Move wood piles at least 30 feet away from structures and wooden fences.
• Clear roofs, gutters, porches and decks of dead leaves, pine needles and other debris.
• Rake under decks, porches, sheds, play structures and stationary propane tanks to clear them of debris and dead vegetation.
• Mow grasses to a height of 4 inches or less.
• Remove items stored under decks and porches and relocate them to a storage shed, garage or basement, if possible.
• Gasoline cans and portable propane tanks should be located away from the home, and never stored indoors.

For more project ideas, go to http://wildfireprepday.org and click on ìWildfire Community Preparedness Dayî on the left side of the page.Additional information about wildfire mitigation can be found atNational Fire Protection Association Firewise USAô program: https://nfpa.org/Public-Education/By-topic/Wildfire/Firewise-USA†Colorado State Forest Service: https://csfs.colostate.edu/wildfire-mitigation/Fire restrictions and red flag warningsMultiple red flag warnings have been issued for all or part of El Paso County so far in 2018. Additionally, the El Paso County Sheriffís Office enacted Stage 1 fire restrictions for unincorporated areas of El Paso County March 16; upgraded to Stage 2 restrictions April 17; and returned to Stage 1 fire restrictions April 23. Last yearís grasses are dried; brush and trees have lost significant moisture content during the extremely dry winter. It will take more than a storm or two to rehydrate the dry vegetation.Here is a brief overview of fire restrictions and red flag warnings.Stage 1 and 2 fire restrictions are enacted and lifted by the El Paso County Sheriffís Office based on current and predicted environmental conditions. There is no set ìexpirationî date or time. A list of prohibited activities under these restrictions can be found on the FFPD website.Red flag warnings are issued by the National Weather Service when outdoor conditions (low relative humidity, increased winds, warm temperatures, etc.) meet, or are predicted to meet, certain criteria for elevated fire danger. Both the Highway 24 fire in Falcon April 2 and the Mile Marker 117 fire in Hanover April 17 occurred on red flag days. Red flag warnings are typically issued for specific dates and times.The Falcon Fire Protection District does not issue, suspend or lift county-wide Stage 1 or 2 fire restrictions or issue red flag warnings.

Stay connected with the FFPD Website: http://falconfirepd.orgFacebook: Falcon Fire DepartmentTwitter: @FalconFireDept