I_WMRC_2019A 09/19/2019 09:04:44 AM Committee Summary

Mike Morgan, Division Director, Division of Fire Prevention and Control, Colorado Department of Public Safety, introduced himself to the committee and described the division's work. Committee members received a packet of information from the division (Attachment A), including presentation slides.

Mr. Morgan discussed the division's mission and each section. He began with the Fire and Life Safety Section, which manages the state's fire, building, and life safety codes.  He then described the Fire Investigations Section, responding to questions about the canine role in fire investigations. Mr. Morgan explained that wildfire has become a public safety problem, rather than a natural resources problem, in Colorado.

Mr. Morgan described the Wildland Fire Management Section and discussed its work. He responded to a question from the committee about homeowners insurance in rural areas, discussing the fire protection rating classification system.  Discussion continued on this point.

Mr. Morgan responded to committee member
questions about the division's fire management districts and regions, and
the leadership structure of battalion and district chiefs.  He explained
a recent restructuring of this model.

Vaughn Jones, Wildland Fire Management
Section, responded to additional questions about the districts.

Mr. Morgan discussed the division's single engine air tanker (SEAT), helitack, and multi-mission aircraft programs.  He responded to committee member questions about the use of military vehicles in firefighting.  He noted that the division has recently authorized the use of its helicopters for night operations.

Ben Miller, Director, Center of Excellence in Aerial Firefighting, discussed his section's work and current projects.  Mr. Morgan responded to committee member questions about the command and control of wildfires.  Discussion on this topic ensued.

Mr. Miller presented additional information about the Center of Excellence.

Mr. Morgan discussed the division's working group recommendations and legislation passed in 2019.

Neal Driscoll and Joe Kerr, representing a consortium of the University of California San Diego, the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and the University of Nevada, Reno, presented to the committee.  They provided a handout (Attachment B) to committee members.  Mr. Driscoll described the ALERTWildfire network, which deploys high definition cameras and a microwave communications network to confirm hazards.

Mr. Driscoll discussed the Camp Fire and the changes in atmospheric conditions that have led to the rapid growth of wildfires.  In response to a committee member question, he noted the rise in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Mr. Driscoll demonstrated the use of the ALERTWildfire system in San Diego County over several wildfires.

Mr. Kerr discussed the advantages of ALERTWildfire to firefighters and fire agencies.

Mr. Driscoll responded to questions from the committee about the scope and reach of ALERTWildfire cameras, and the cost of building such a system in Colorado.  He suggested that a pilot in Colorado would include a hub of 20 cameras and cost approximately $1 million.

Mr. Gomez discussed fuels management science and his group's work in creating defensible space and strategic shaded fuelbreaks.  He responded to a committee member question about incentives for homeowners to undertake mitigation work.

Mr. Gomez discussed ways to keep embers from igniting homes during wildfires, including defensible space and the use of fire-resistant building materials. He responded to a question about urban conflagration and the ways fires cause homes to burn.

Mr. Gomez made recommendations for financial incentives and support to conduct mitigation work in local communities.  He responded to a question about the barriers to wildfire mitigation, noting that a lack of site-specific information is a bigger barrier than costs.

The committee recessed for lunch.

Christy Crosser, representing the Town of Estes Park, David Wolf, representing Estes Valley Fire, and Denise Howell, representing the City of Manitou Springs provided a municipal perspective on wildfires.  Chief Wolf discussed the 2012 Woodland Heights fire and the limited destruction due to a quick response.

Ms. Crosser spoke about the recovery effort after the Woodland Heights fire, including grant and loan programs, multi-agency collaboration, and the need to expand local broadband.  

She also discussed the impact that news and social media has on tourism. 

Ms. Crosser explained the vulnerability of their communication network during harsh weather conditions and natural disasters, and discussed future opportunites.

Ms. Crosser mentioned that Estes Park understands the importance of collaboration and has pursued additional partnerships, including joining the Colorado Resiliency and Recovery Network.

Ms. Crosser indicated that it is importation to have plans, processes, and policies in place in advance of a disaster.

There was a discussion about future mitigation and education.  Chief Wolf said that there are plans with the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service regarding operations during a fire where there are shared boundaries.

There was a discussion about communication when 911 is down.

Ms. Howell talked about the City of Manitou Springs including expeiriencing a damaging event (fires and floods) every six years.

She explained that the City of Manitou Springs has created an integrated community master plan, a hazardous risk assessment, and a mitigation strategy, and mentioned that education is key for businesses, homeowners, and tourists.

Ms. Howell explained the work Manitou Springs has done on updating planning codes and creating assessments to determine if a property is at risk.

She explained that the city has met with county emergency management and taken a community approach with fire adapted communities.

There was a discussion about grant programs for fire mitigation and the 50 percent local match, advanced warning systems for floods and reverse 911 capabilities.  

Brett Lacy, Jeremy Taylor, and Richard Skorman, all representing the City of Colorado Springs talked about mitigation.  The group is interested in creating a special district to cooperate on mitigation, chipping, and evacuation planning.  There are also goals to respond to fires rapidly, and perhaps patrol a fire prone area.  All of these activities will be beneficial to the Fountain Creek Watershed.  

Mr. Lacy indicated that the southwest area of Colorado Springs has steep topography and one-way, narrow streets and exaplined that there is a need for ongoing education, as the area has a 12 percent turnover each year.

Discussion continued about special districts and maintaining watersheds.

Hansen Wendlandt, representing the Nederland Interagency Council for Homeless Encampment (NICHE), testified about a program for homeless campers. 

There was a discussion about the reason for homeless encampments and other homeless issues.

Megan Waples and Bob Lackner led the discussion about bill drafting.