Spanish Peaks Volunteer Fire Department

Ten Tips to Remember When Stopped by a Colorado Officer

2011-07-29T15:20:00.004-06:00

When you see the red and blue lights and/or hear a siren, remain calm and gradually pull to the right shoulder or as far off the right side of the road as you safely can.

Remain in your car unless the officer directs otherwise.

If the stop occurs during darkness, turn on your vehicle's interior lights so the Trooper can easily view the car's interior. Understand the Trooper may use a spotlight and/or a flashlight for safety purposes.

Driver and any passengers should keep their hands in plain sight so the officer can see them.

Avoid sudden movements that might cause alarm to the officer.

Do not immediately reach for your license or other documents until the officer requests them.

Tell the Trooper about any weapons in your vehicle.

If your documents are out of reach, tell the Trooper where they are before you slowly reach for them.

If there are any passengers in your vehicle, encourage them to remain quiet and cooperate with instructions. You, as the driver, are solely responsible for your vehicle and its occupants.

Follow instructions. Comply with the Trooper's request first and then, if needed, seek an explanation.

Published by the Colorado State Patrol
Operational Development Section 01/04

Posted by Colleen C.

9Health Fair - Trinidad, Colorado

2011-03-23T11:17:00.002-06:00

Mt. San Rafael Hospital will hold its annual health fair on Saturday, April 16th from 7:30 a.m. to noon (register in the lobby).

Free Screenings include blood pressure, body & balance, height/weight, hearing, vision, lung function, finger stick glucose test, cardiac risk assessment, prostate screening and osteoporosis screenings, plus many interactive educational booths.

Pay with cash or check for your:
Blood Chemistry Analysis - $30
PSA Screening - $25
Blood Count - $15
Colon Cancer Screening Kit - $20
New screening: Vitamin D - $40

Please call Lynda Pachelli for more information - 846-9213.

Posted by Colleen C.

Spanish Peaks Mud Race

2010-06-17T15:35:00.001-06:00

Please join us at the Spanish Peaks Mud Race, Sunday, July 18. We will be there staging, to help protect both the racers and the audience.

You know you don't want to miss this awesome annual event! The Spanish Peaks Mud Racing Committee sure knows how to throw a party!

Plus, both the Bon Carbo and Spanish Peaks Auxiliaries will have a booth there, so you can also help support your Volunteer Fire Department!

See you there!

Summer Safety Tip: National Safety Month: Teen Driver Safety

2010-06-10T14:52:00.000-06:00

This week, the National Safety Council is focusing on Teen Drivers. With school out and summer jobs in full swing, there are many more teen drivers on the road in the summer months than at any other time.

From now until June 13, the National Safety Council is offering free enrollment in the "Alive at 25" program, which teaches parents about the risks teen drivers face. Please take the few hours to review this course, and then share it with your teen drivers, or your soon to be teen drivers!

Click here for more info!

Auxiliary Activity Meeting

2010-06-09T15:32:00.000-06:00

The Spanish Peaks Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary will be having an Activity meeting on Wednesday, June 23, at 6:00 pm at the Aguilar Station.

If you'd like to be a part of the Auxiliary and help our firefighters, yet don't want to sit through a business meeting, then this is the meeting for you!

During this meeting we will plan activities and work on projects. We would love to have you join us!

For more information call Amanda Grubb, Auxiliary President, at 719-941-4440.

Colorado Rockies Firefighter Appreciation Night

2010-06-09T14:40:00.000-06:00

Thinking about taking in a Colorado Rockies game this season?

On September 11, 2010, the Colorado Rockies will hold their annual Firefighter Appreciation Night, where a portion of select tickets sold will benefit the Colorado Fallen Firefighters Association.

For more information, please visit this link!

Summer Safety Tips: Bicycling and Skating

2010-06-07T08:44:00.000-06:00

With the kids out of school, and warm temperatures abounding, bicycling and skating seem to be among the most popular activities for kids. As always, the Bon Carbo Fire Department wants our children to be safe. Please take a few minutes to read this article at safekids.org.

Stay Safe!

Burn Permits

2010-06-02T15:28:00.001-06:00

The Spanish Peaks Volunteer Fire Department is currently issuing burn permits dependent upon the weather.

Please call the station at 719-941-4107 to see if we can issue one for you today!

Summer Safety Tips: Water Activities

2010-06-01T08:28:00.000-06:00

It's really warming up out there! It's that time of year when the kids start begging to go to the pool or the lake to cool off. The Spanish Peaks Volunteer Fire Department wants your family to have fun in a safe way!

Safekids.org has a great article for water safety! Please spend some time refamiliarizing yourself with these tips!

Stay Safe!

Wildfire Approaching

2010-05-28T12:00:00.000-06:00

CALL FOR HELP. Use a cell phone if your electrical power has been interrupted.

CLOSE ALL ENTRANCES, WINDOWS AND OTHER OPENINGS. This includes doors, garage doors, windows, vents and any other entrances to your residence or garage. Close shutters, heavy drapes, Venetian blinds or other window coverings. This action is recommended to prevent sparks from blowing inside your house and igniting there.

HAVE TOOLS & WATER ACCESSIBLE. Have a shovel, rake and long water hose accessible. Fill buckets and other bulk containers with water.

DRESS TO PROTECT YOURSELF. Wear cotton/woolen clothing including long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, gloves and a handkerchief to protect your face.

WET DOWN THE ROOF. If your roof is combustible, wet it down with a hose. Place the ladder you use for this task on the side of the roof opposite the fire.

TURN OFF RESIDENTIAL FUEL. If you use natural gas or butane, turn it off at the tank or the meter.

PREPARE THE AUTOMOBILES. Back as many vehicles as possible into the garage. Then close the garage door. In the event you evacuate, close the garage door behind you as you leave. If you do not have a garage or if the garage is full, park vehicles so they are heading in the direction of the evacuation route.

EVACUATE THE FAMILY. If evacuation becomes necessary, take your family and pets to a safe location.

From: www.firewise.org

Summer Safety Tips: BBQ Grills

2010-05-26T08:12:00.000-06:00

The fine folks at Kingsford have put together some tips for BBQ grill safety. The Spanish Peaks Volunteer Fire Department would like to share these with you to help you have a safer summer.

Stay Safe!

Summer Safety Tips: Physical Activity

2010-05-24T08:08:00.001-06:00

Summer is a time when many of us become much more active after a winter of forced inactivity. The Spanish Peaks Volunteer Fire Departments wants you to be safe this summer!

Please read this article for tips on resuming physical activity in the summer!

Stay Safe!

Spanish Peaks Mud Run

2010-05-24T07:37:00.000-06:00

It's that time of year again!

The Spanish Peaks Mud Racing Association will be holding the Memorial Day Mud Race on Sunday, May 30, 2010. We urge everyone to come and have a great time!

As always, the Spanish Peaks Volunteer Fire Department will be staging at the event-just in case.

Medical Dry Erase Boards

2010-05-19T13:30:00.001-06:00

The Spanish Peaks Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary would like to remind you that they have the medical dry erase boards for sale for $5.00 each. These boards are a great tool for elderly, disabled, or people who take many medications. This information provides Emergency Medical personnel to have instant access to your medical history, and to know what medications you are currently taking. Even if you are not till or don't foresee yourself needing to call 911, that unexpected accident can leave you needing to have this valuable information-at a time when you are unable to provide it!

To order a medical dry erase board, you can stop by the station Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday from 9 am until 3 pm, or you can call Auxiliary President Amanda Chavez-Grubb at 719-941-4440.

Summer Safety Tips: ATV Riding

2010-05-17T08:25:00.000-06:00

As temperatures finally start to warm up, the Bon Carbo Volunteer Fire Department is seeing more ATVs on the road-and off. We encourage safe and fun ATV experiences!

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has put together a great site with safety tips, links to training courses, and upcoming legislation affecting ATVs. Please take a few minutes to visit!

Stay Safe!

How to Burn Debris Safely, Part 3 – Using a Burn Barrel

2010-05-14T12:45:00.000-06:00

You can reduce the risk of wildfire when using a burn barrel to dispose of backyard debris if you make sure:

Your burn barrel is of all-metal construction and is in good condition. When checking your barrel, look at the walls and bottom to make sure rust hasn't weakened them, even in spots.

Make sure your barrel is properly ventilated by evenly spacing three 3" square vents near the bottom around the rim and backing each vent with a metal screen.

Put a metal screen on top of your barrel to keep sparks from igniting vegetation - it's recommended you use 14 gauge wire mesh size of 1/4" or finer.

Have a shovel, rake and plenty of water near the burn site.

NEVER use an accelerant in a burn barrel or burn pile. Especially if you like your eyebrows!

Start small and add as you go ... put small twigs and branches at the bottom of the barrel because they ignite quickly, and make sure to stir frequently to introduce new oxygen. After you've established a vigorous heat source from your twigs, etc., add leaves, needles, and bark in small increments and continue to stir frequently to make sure everything gets burned. You'll want to add to your fire gradually because if you have a lot of debris burning in your barrel at once, the intense heat it will generate can cause embers to fly high and over your control line.

REMEMBER, it's illegal to burn just about anything that isn't from a tree or shrub. That means you'll need to take your plastic items (surprisingly, that including window envelopes as they give off toxic fumes), tires, batteries, asphalt, treated wood, pesticide containers, petroleum products, etc. to the landfill.

When you're finished burning, make sure the fire is OUT! Pour water on it, stir it, then pour more water on it and monitor it for two hours to make sure it doesn't reignite. It's hard to believe, but days and even weeks after a fire is thought to be out, a burn pile or barrel can still hold heat! With warm spells, the humidity drops. Add a little Aguilar wind gust and embers can not only be reignited, but they can be tossed willy-nilly which may just spell disaster for you and your loved ones.

As always, keep your burn site a safe distance away from trees, overhanging branches, vehicles, and/or structures.

To be completely safe, consider an alternative to burning. Can you use your planned burn as compost to enrich your soil? Or how about building a shelter for the rabbits, etc. to live in - if you layer branches and twigs in different directions on top of small logs, you'll be making nesting areas for various wildlife.

If, heaven forbid, your fire gets away from you, call 9-1-1 immediately. You can always try to get the fire under control with the water, shovel, & rake you have nearby AFTER help is on the way.

Posted by Colleen C.

Summer Safety Tips; Sunburns

2010-05-03T07:56:00.000-06:00

With summer fast approaching, despite the cool temperatures, the Spanish Peaks Volunteer Fire Department would like to share some Summer Safety Tips. This week: Sunburn!

Avoiding sunburn is always preferable to treating one. Remember to use sunscreen, and reapply often. If you're wearing light colored clothing, place a layer of sunscreen underneath your clothes before you get dressed-UV rays can penetrate light colored clothing! Trips to the bathroom during your daily activities can give you a chance to reapply sunscreen in these areas.

There are some amazing products on the market today. Consumer reports has an article with recommendations and tips.

If you do get a sunburn, RevolutionHealth has an article with treatment ideas.

Stay safe this summer!

How to Burn Debris Safely, Part Two – Preparing the Burn Site

2010-04-16T18:15:00.000-06:00

AFTER we’ve gotten our burn permit from the Spanish Peaks Fire Station (see “How to Burn Debris Safely – Part One”), we’ll prepare our burn site so that an ember, flame, or radiant heat doesn’t reach nearby vegetation and possibly start a fire that may quickly get out of control.

With safety the number one priority, we’ll make sure our vertical clearance is three or more times higher than the pile we plan to burn. Just because we can’t see radiant heat above the flames leaping several feet into the air, it doesn’t mean it’s not there … and it doesn’t mean it won’t go even higher. For that reason, we’ll check to make sure there aren’t any power lines or overhanging limbs above the burn site. We’ll also move vehicles well away from the burn area and make sure the burn site is nowhere near the house or outbuildings.

Taking fire very seriously, we’ll clear a minimum of ten feet in diameter around our burn pile or barrel, and we’ll make sure the debris pile or barrel is surrounded by nothing more than soil or gravel. We’ll also water the area around the burn site before we light the debris, and we’ll make sure we have a fire extinguisher or hose AND a shovel handy – just in case.

Right about now you’re probably thinking, “First of all, this sounds like an awful lot of work, and second – who is this we you keep talking about?”, but a well-prepared burn site will reduce the possibility of regret once that piles goes up in flames. I’m pretty sure we’ll … okay … you’ll be glad you made the effort.

Part three of the “How to Burn Debris Safely” series will discuss the use of a burn barrel and will be posted at a later date.

Posted by Colleen C.

How to Burn Debris Safely – Part One

2010-04-09T17:26:00.000-06:00

During the coming months, many of us will be diligent in clearing a defensible space around our homes and outbuildings. Once we’ve gotten those branches, pine needles, brush cuttings and leaves piled high, it won’t be a good idea to just leave them where they lie … not only are they eye sores and great places for snakes to make their homes, but they can be a fire’s best chance to spread.

The first thing we’ll need to do is get a burn permit. This is crucial because on Red Flag Warning days, it’s just too hazardous for burning anything, even in a wood stove or fireplace. A nice gust of wind could carry sparks from our burn sites to grass or brush a considerable distance away, and then we could be in big trouble. Not only will we have to deal with the fire damage and possible injuries, but we could get slapped with a fine for the illegal burn.

If we need to fill out a controlled burn permit, we can either stop by the Spanish Peaks Fire Station in Aguilar on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, or call the station at 941-4107. This phone is always answered.

It’s illegal to burn pretty much anything other than what we’ve cleared from trees or shrubs, so we’ll have to forget about torching those old tires or that stack of plastic bottles and containers we’ve been meaning to take to the landfill. Besides, some of those things give off toxic fumes when burned.

The next article – How to Burn Debris Safely, Part Two – will cover how to prepare the burn site and will be posted at a later date.

Posted by Colleen C.

Are You Fire Wise About Your Child’s Safety?

2010-03-26T17:26:00.000-06:00

There are so many things as adults that we take for granted.

Because we’re old enough to know where fire comes from, we tend to forget how we felt about it when we were much younger. Do you remember the first time you heard the sound of a match being struck and the smell of the sulfur as it billowed into a flickering light? Or the surprise you felt when you saw your mom turn the knob on the stove and the blue and yellow glow appeared? What about the first time you saw your dad or granddad flick a lighter and a flame popped out?

Pretty amazing stuff – especially to a toddler!

As you got older, were you one of those lucky kids who played with matches and suffered no consequences? Statistics prove that many, many other children haven’t been so fortunate. Fires can spread ridiculously fast, and one small mistake can be the last.

It’s true that curiosity about fire is natural, so we, as parents, need to be aware that matches left on the coffee table or candles left burning in the living room can cause all sorts of trouble if we’re not diligent.

Some things we need to do are:

• Put matches and lighters up out of our child or grandchild’s reach or keep them in the pocket of the clothing we’re wearing at the moment. Even better, lock them away! Children can be extremely resourceful – it wouldn’t be that hard to figure out a way to climb up on the counter to get their little fingers around that lighter!

• The Cinnamon Spice candle that makes our house smell so nice can leave little Timmy blistered, or cause his clothes to catch on fire if we’re not paying attention!

• If we can’t do it ourselves, we need to designate a responsible adult to keep at least one eye on the children at all times. We need to keep in mind that fire is only one possible danger kids can encounter before they get old enough to make wise decisions for themselves!

• Granted, the loud beeping of a smoke detector is annoying, but it may just be the only thing between our child and her painful burns or death! That sounds harsh, but it’s true. Our homes should have detectors in or near each bedroom, as well as throughout the entire space.

If we do our jobs right, our little Timmy’s and Tammy’s will grow up, safe and unscarred, with a healthy respect for the benefits and dangers of fire. It’s up to us!

Posted by Colleen C.

2010 BCVFD Officers and Firefighters

2010-03-11T09:40:00.000-07:00

Mary Ann Herzog - Fire Chief and Training Officer

Mark Ernst - Assistant Fire Chief

Aaron Render - Captain

Carter Morris - Lieutenant

Barry Lentz - Seasonal Firefighter

Kitchen Fires

2010-03-05T18:36:00.000-07:00

We live in the era of multi-tasking. Have you ever put something on the stove to cook and forgotten all about it until a nasty smell invades your senses or you’re brought up short by the incessant screeching of the smoke alarm? And let’s hope you never get so distracted that you put dinner on to cook and then leave the house!

When I was an 18-year-old newlywed who knew less than nothing about cooking, I experienced what’s called a DRY COOKING FIRE. That’s where the liquid in the pan boils out and scorches whatever you’re cooking. Luckily, these types of “fires” don’t usually cause a lot of damage other than the smoke leaving a residue and an unpleasant odor, but the heat may cause some damage to the surrounding cooking area. I was fortunate – all that happened was the pan was ruined, the apartment stunk to the high heavens for awhile, and my husband got to tease me by telling anyone who’d listen that, yes Virginia, you can burn boiled eggs!

If you experience an OVEN FIRE, it’s normally not too serious because they usually suffocate or can be easily extinguished.

GREASE FIRES, on the other hand, are a serious matter! These start when oil or greasy foods ignite, and the open flames can quickly reach the cabinets or combustibles, causing a major fire. If you can cover the pan with a lid, you may be able to suffocate the fire. Dousing the flames with baking soda may work as well. One thing you never want to do is put water on a grease fire … that will make it splatter and will increase the size of the blaze. Another thing you’ll never want to do is attempt to carry the burning pan outside; it will get too hot and you’ll probably drop it, which will spread the fire even further.

Here are some things you can do to avoid kitchen fires:

1) Make sure you’re not wearing loose-fitting or long-sleeved clothes that could inadvertently rake across the open flame. If you have long hair, pull it back away from your face and don’t use flammable hair products.

2) Keep potholders, boxes, plastic cooking utensils, etc. away from open flames, and place the pot handles so they’re not sticking out where anyone, including children, can bump them or tip them over.

3) Because it’s highly flammable, make sure to keep your cooking areas free of grease.

If you have the misfortune to experience any type of fire, get everyone out of the house as quickly as possible, close the door behind you, and call 9-1-1.

Posted by Colleen C.

Spring Cleaning: Clean Up the Clutter!

2010-03-01T13:35:00.000-07:00

This time of year, many folks find themselves doing those major, top to bottom household cleanings that have been put off since fall. Taking care of cobwebs, cleaning out and reorganizing closets, drawers and storage areas, etc.

When organizing your Spring Cleaning, don't forget these areas, which will not only decrease your clutter, but make your home and property safer:

Medicine cabinets-Are any of your medicines expired?
Under bathroom and kitchen sinks-old cleaning supplies can change and degrade over time
Pantry and food storage areas-Discard expired foods, look for evidence of bug and/or rodent infestation
Outbuildings-This is a great time to buy a workbench or other storage to organize your tools and equipment, so that a misplaced item doesn't cause an accident
Property and fence lines-Do you have a build up of debris from high winds or drainage?
Crawl spaces-Open crawl spaces can also have a build up of debris; closed in ones can show evidence of structure damage or pest infestation
Yard Area-Debris build up, unfinished projects, and new weathering from drainage can all be accidents waiting to happen, especially if children will be playing in your yard

This is also a great time of year to be working on wild fire mitigation efforts. Firewise.org has some great suggestions for creating beautiful, sustainable, and safe landscaping.

Space Heater Safety Tips

2010-02-19T16:41:00.000-07:00

It’s easy to turn a space heater on and forget about it for hours on end, but that can lead to big trouble … especially if you don’t remember to:

1) Put it on a flat surface where it can’t fall or get knocked over;

2) Leave a door open for good ventilation, and;

3) Put it at least three feet away from furniture, curtains, Christmas trees, or pets and their bedding.

(Because Fido wants to stay warm, too, that adorable little guy may drag his doggie blanket over to the heater and plop his furry bee-hind down as close to the warmth as he can, inadvertently blocking the air flow.)

If you decide to use a space heater, you’ll want to plug it directly into the outlet instead of using household extension cords because they can overheat and cause sparks. If that short cord attached to your heater just doesn’t allow you to get it where you need it, use a heavy duty extension cord marked with a power rating as high, or higher than, as what’s listed on your heater label. But remember that if any of your extension cords are frayed or have damaged cords, you should get rid of them – they’re a fire waiting to happen.

Ever had an electric shock? They're not exactly a high point in anyone's life. You’ll avoid them by keeping your heater (or any other electrical appliance, etc.) away from water or anywhere liquids can be spilled.

If you’ve acquired as many appliances and pieces of equipment as we have over the years, then you're aware that they all eventually break down. Well, space heaters are no exception to that aggravating rule, so that’s why you’ll want to make sure someone who is awake is in the room the entire time the heater is on and that they remember to shut it off if they’re the last one to leave.

Statistics show that space heaters need to be properly used and supervised to avoid property damage and death. We may feel that our belongings are irreplaceable, but they are nothing compared to the loss of a loved one.

Posted by Colleen C.

An Ounce of Prevention

2010-02-04T14:00:00.000-07:00

The article below was written by the Bon Carbo Volunteer Fire Department's Administrative Assistant for Bon Carbo, but the information may be useful to the Spanish Peaks community as well. For that reason, Spanish Peaks' information has replaced Bon Carbo's in certain sentences.

It seems there are pros and cons to everything, doesn’t it? My husband and I left the hustle and bustle of Southern California for the beauty and peacefulness of our mountain home, but living with so many magnificent trees has meant that the threat of fire is always in the backs of our minds. With being members of the Bon Carbo Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary, and with what I’ve learned since taking on the responsibilities of the Administrative Assistant for the Fire Department, we've become even more aware of the danger fires pose. Those facts have helped motivate me to do some research on the subject.

I found a great website (www.firewise.org) containing valuable information, so I thought I’d include some of it here to help you understand what you need to do to help protect yourselves and your property:

First you’ll want to make sure your roof covering is non-flammable, so you’ll need to use Class-A asphalt shingles, metal, or concrete products.

In order to prevent flying embers from igniting your home, it’s a good idea to sweep your roof and gutters once or twice a year to avoid a build-up of leaves and pine needles. You’ll also want to get rid of vegetation, dead leaves and other flammable debris from around and under your house.

You’ll want to make of point of both picking up branches, leaves, and pine needles regularly and remembering to keep your trees pruned so that the lowest branches are six to ten feet from the ground. Those trees and shrubs you love to see around your house ought to be well-spaced, watered, and properly pruned, too.

Since you don’t want fire making a bee line to your home or that nice workshop you convinced your wife you couldn’t live without, you’ll want to store your firewood away from the house and outbuildings (unless, of course, its in a woodshed!).

If you want to burn leaves, etc., make sure to call the Spanish Peaks Volunteer Fire Department (Tues., Weds., or Thurs. from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 941-4107) to see if a burning ban is in effect before you ignite anything outside. It gets mighty windy here in the Spanish Peaks area, and it wouldn’t take much for sparks to wreak havoc. If no ban is in effect, Chief Larry or Keisha will contact you about issuing a burn permit.

Once you get the permit, you’ll want to use a common-sense approach to help stop the fire from getting out of control by first clearing combustible materials away from your burn site. It’s a good idea to stay by the fire with a hose or a bucket of water ready in case of an emergency … no one wants to be responsible for property damage and possible loss of life!

If the unthinkable should happen, you’ll want emergency vehicles to get as close to your home as possible, so make sure you have enough clearance (at least thirty feet) around your house for the volunteer firefighters to gain access.

It’s vital that you and your loved ones know all emergency exits from your area and that you make a point of talking about how and when to use those exits if a wildfire is close.

And remember that if you’re away from home when a wildfire breaks out, do not return until the danger of fire has passed so you don’t obstruct emergency vehicles and firefighters.

The men and women of both the Bon Carbo and Spanish Peaks Volunteer Fire Departments and Auxiliaries want to wish you and yours a safe and happy 2010!

Posted by Colleen C.

Generator Safety

2010-02-01T11:46:00.000-07:00

As we begin the move from cold winter into warmer spring weather, which means wet, heavy snows and those Chinooks blowing away like mad, the Spanish Peaks Volunteer Fire Department would like to remind you to be careful!

This time of year, we often experience power outages due to weather. While many are short or intermittent, we have in the past had some longer outages. With weather conditions impacting energy availability, many people are using portable generators to power their homes.

If your generator is not properly installed or operated, it can become deadly due to electrical shock and carbon monoxide fumes.

SPVFD encourages you to contact a licensed electrician to install your generator to make sure it meets all local codes. Never connect a generator directly to your household wiring without using an appropriate transfer switch, and be sure to check State Law to see if you need to notify your utility.

Did you know…
Power from generators connected directly to household wiring can backfeed along power lines and electrocute anyone coming in contact with them, including lineworkers making repairs?
Generators can produce high levels of carbon monoxide (CO) very quickly?
You should never operate your generator in an enclosed or partially enclosed space such as your garage or covered porch?
You should place your generator far away from any structure housing people or pets?
You should use carbon monoxide detectors whenever you operate a generator?
You need to turn off all appliances powered by the enerator before shutting down the generator?
You should use a ground fault circuit interrupter (GCFI) to help prevent electrocutions and electrical shock injuries?

Always remember that electricity is a powerful tool, and should be used with caution!
Always keep children and pets away from portable generators, and do not overload the generator or extension cords!

Helping Haiti

2010-01-20T15:58:00.001-07:00

The men and women of the Spanish Peaks Volunteer Fire Department would like to encourage members of the community to help the earthquake victims in Haiti in whatever ways they can. We also urge you to use caution when considering where to send your financial support. As we have learned from past tragedies, the suffering of others is often further compounded by scam artists trying to steal money intended for victim's assistance.

CBSnews.com has compiled a list of respectable charitable organizations, as well as information on how to look for loved ones in Haiti. You can find that list by clicking here.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families, and also to the thousands of support personnel on the ground in Haiti.

Burn Permits 1/20/10

2010-01-20T09:12:00.000-07:00

Spanish Peaks Volunteer Fire Department is not issuing burn permits today.

The weather forecasts for this week show the potential for high winds, and gusts as high as 50 MPH are expected on Friday. We may issue permits on Thursday, depending on the wind forecasts.

Even though you may still have snow on the ground, if an ember from your controlled burn gets into the trees, it will not take long for the winter-dry trees to flare and a fire can spread quickly through only the treetops. Once that fire gets to areas where there is no snow on the ground, the results can be devastating. Las Animas County has already experienced at least two wild land fires in January. While these were small and fairly quickly contained, the potential for a damaging fire is still there.

Also please remember that our District is a large one. Forecasts for our protection area as a whole may show wind, although some areas, primarily mountain valleys and canyons, may not experience much wind. While spot weather forecasts are possible, they are very time consuming and it is simply not feasible for our volunteers to put these together.

2009 Call Statistics

2010-01-19T13:20:00.000-07:00

In 2009, the Spanish Peaks Volunteer Fire Department responded to over 120 calls. Here is our call breakdown by type of incident:

Wildland Fire-6
Structure Fire-5 (Includes residential, outbuilding, and even a set of railroad ties!)
Vehicle Accident (no injuries)-2
Vehicle Accident (with injuries)-21
Medical-61
Natural Gas Leak-2
Hazardous Spill-1
Cancelled En Route-2
Service Call-9 (Includes staging for events such as mud races and the Holly Ringo Memorial Volleyball Tournament)
No One Available for Call-3
Misc-12 (Includes eight calls for unauthorized controlled burns)

We saw a slight decrease in total calls from 2008, with an increase in medical calls.

Residents of the Spanish Peaks Volunteer Fire Department's protection area should consider this a reminder that you must obtain a burn permit to do any controlled burning on your property. When your neighbors see your smoke and call 911 to report a possible fire, if we know you are burning, we can address the issue with a simple phone call. If you do not obtain a burn permit, we have to send fire engines to your address, resulting in fuel charges and wear and tear on the Department's vehicles. Getting a burn permit is not only the responsible thing to do, it saves taxpayer dollars! It can also help you avoid a costly fine. In 2009, a resident was ticketed for uncontrolled burning.

You can obtain a burn permit by stopping by the Aguilar station Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday from 9:00 am until 3:00 pm. If you are unable to stop in at those times, you can call 941-4107 or 941-4505 to schedule a time to come in and fill one out. You can activate your burn permit by calling 941-4107 or 941-4505. Burn permits are activated based upon forecasted weather conditions and availability of firefighters in case your fire becomes uncontrolled.

It is free to obtain and activate your burn permit.

Burn Permits

2010-01-18T10:39:00.000-07:00

Is it January? Really? 60 Degree temperatures make me wonder?!

With our unseasonably high temperatures, humidity is decreasing. Even though there is snow on the ground, a wild land fire can quickly burn into the crowns of winter-dead trees when the humidity is low.

The SPVFD is currently issuing burn permits on a day-by-day basis. Each morning the weather is checked, and the determination whether or not to issue burn permits is based on the forecasted temperature, humidity, and wind speed. We will likely not be issuing three day permits in the near future.

If you need a burn permit and do not have a current list of people to call, you may call the station at 941-4107 or email SpanishPeaksBase@hotmail.com.

About Wildfire

2010-01-16T13:48:00.000-07:00

Article from http://csfs.colostate.edu/pages/wf-about.html

Fire has been an essential part of our environment for millennia, shaping natural ecosystems such as forests and rangelands.

Fire is a vital and natural component of healthy forests, especially in the West. Many species, such as lodgepole pine, partially depend on fire to spread their seeds.

Three components must be present before a fire can start: oxygen, heat and fuel. In the context of wildfires, fuel is any living or dead material that will burn, such as dry leaves, pine trees, fallen branches, grasses and even homes.

Low-intensity fires reduce fuel buildup on the forest floor, thus helping prevent susceptibility to insect infestations and disease outbreaks. Additionally, fire helps recycle nutrients back into the soil and creates a fertile environment for seeds to germinate. Forest fires can enhance wildlife habitat and improve access and appearance.

Historically, fires caused by lightning and ignited by Native Americans helped maintain open forests and grasslands.

By the 1900s, however, Americans grew to fear fire — whether natural or human caused — due to damages to personal property, farmland, livestock and wildlife, and threats to human life. As a result, fire suppression became the norm.

The great fires of 1910 burned more than 3 million acres in the Northern Rockies of Idaho and Montana, took the lives of 78 firefighters and cost the USDA Forest Service more than $20 million (adjusted for inflation). This historic event, known as "The Big Blowup," prompted a decision to put out forest fires as quickly as possible. Now, almost 100 years later, fire suppression has led to severe changes in America's forests.

A century of fire suppression has produced dangerous accumulations of fuels, causing hotter and more intense fires when they do eventually burn. Because of the arrangement of these fuels, fire travels to the top of the forest instead of staying close to the ground. These crown fires are extremely threatening to soils, habitat, property and people.

Excessive fire suppression and fuel buildup have negative impacts on forest health and the humans and wildlife that inhabit the area. However, land managers and homeowners can take preventive measures to reduce the occurrence of catastrophic crown fires. Such actions include clearing dead and downed materials, thinning tree stands and removing other hazardous fuels. Allowing naturally occurring fires to burn without interference or applying fire through prescribed burning can help prevent intense crown fires and maintain a healthy forest.

Well-belted kids

2010-01-14T10:35:00.000-07:00

You’re just going to the store, or for a short drive over to the neighbors. You live on a dirt road and no one ever speeds, including you. The kids are sleeping, and they need to be able to get more comfortable.

Ever said these words before when thinking about whether or not to belt your kids into the car? According to healthychildren.org, each year thousands of children are killed or injured in car crashes-and a lot of those deaths and injuries could have been prevented with proper seat belt usage.

Infants should be in a rear facing car seat, preferably in the back seat, until they reach a minimum of 20 pounds and are a year old. If your child outgrows his or her infant only seat, a convertible car seat is the next step up. This car seat can be placed in either the rear or forward facing position, and gives larger infants who haven’t yet reached their first birthday a bit more room while still in the rear facing position.

Once your little one has reached 20 pounds and made a huge mess of his or her first birthday cake, they can sit in a forward facing car seat. A forward facing car seat should have a five point harness system for maximum safety.

School aged children can sit in booster seats, which come in a variety of sizes. One, for younger children, is a complete seat with a bottom and back, allowing the vehicles seat belt to fit them properly. Older children can use a booster seat with only a bottom, provided they are tall enough that the seat belt sits across their chest. Booster seats should be used until a child reaches 4’9” tall and is 8-12 years old.

Older children can use seat belts, but Dr. Arlene Greenspan of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says all children younger than 13 should sit in the back seat. This provides the best protection.

Your car insurance provider may provide car seat installation service, in which a qualified technician will come out and make sure your children’s car seats are installed in your car properly.

If you need more information to help you purchase the best carseat for your child, please visit HealthyChildren.org.

New Year, Exciting New Changes!

2010-01-14T10:19:00.000-07:00

On December 5, 2009, Chief Mike Zanolini stepped down as Chief of the Spanish Peaks Fire Department. His retirement, after 13 years of service to the Department, came about as the result of a hectic work schedule. Most of our volunteer firefighters are employed full time, and it can be challenging to find the balance between work, family, and volunteerism-especially when you are in a position as demanding as Chief! We were saddened to see Chief Zanolini go. His firefighters surprised him recently with a plaque and beer stein thanking him for his courage and leadership. It was a memorable evening!

With Chief Zanolini’s retirement, Deputy Chief Larry Broach moved into the position as Chief, as per the District’s Standard Operating Procedures. Chief Broach has been with the SPVFD for five years, and has served various Officer positions, including Assistant Chief and Deputy Chief. Chief Broach recently cemented his commitment to the community by becoming a Nationally Registered EMT-B. He brings a wealth of experience and training to the position of Chief.

Spanish Peaks VFD’s other Officers include:
Wyatt Lisonbee-Assistant Chief
Joe Julian-Captain
Derek Grubb-Training Officer

We look forward to the coming months, and benefitting from the continued leadership of our committed Officer staff!

Prepare for anything in 2010!

2010-01-12T15:22:00.000-07:00

The Spanish Peaks Volunteer Fire Department urges residents to prepare for any type of unseen emergency. While the weather may be lovely, Colorado weather is still unpredictable, and with humidity levels creeping lower and lower, wild fire is again becoming a threat-even with snow still on the ground!
The men and women of the Spanish Peaks Volunteer Fire Department want you and your family to be safe in 2010. The Los Angeles Fire Department has written an excellent blog regarding preparedness, and there are some great links that apply to everyone, regardless of your location.

http://lafd.blogspot.com/2010/01/prepare-for-whatever-comes-in-2010.html

Annual Appreciation Dinner - Part Two

2010-01-05T16:26:00.001-07:00

Our annual Appreciation Dinner, hosted this year by Bon Carbo and held at the Holiday Inn across from Wal-Mart, was an enjoyable get-together. The Italian Buffet, that auxiliary members voted on previously, turned out to be a good choice ... dee-licious! The room was set up with round tables with white tablecloths and black napkins - very elegant. The auxiliary purchased centerpieces of Kwik-Shot Soot Stoppers and small fire extinguishers which added a decorative "flare" (pardon the pun) to the tables, along with curled ribbon strips in red, black and yellow.

Spanish Peaks' Chief Mike Zanolini spoke a few words and gave awards and gifts to members of his team, as did Bon Carbo Chief MaryAnn Herzog to her team (Photo #1 shows MaryAnn on the far left with Mike next to her). Auxiliary members were acknowledged with certificates of appreciation for their many volunteer hours and dedication.

WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE WHO VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME AND DONATE RESOURCES TO OUR FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND AUXILIARIES.

A special plaque (Photo #2) was given to Bon Carbo's former Captain, Liz Cedor, for her ten plus years of service to the community. In late August, Liz made the difficult decision to step down from the fire department. Needless to say (but it'll be said anyway), she is sorely missed.

During dessert, guests were asked to look at the bottoms of their chairs. One lucky person at each table sat in the WINNER seat and was rewarded with the Kwik-Shot or fire extinguisher to take home.

Come join our firefighters and/or auxiliary and be a part of the 2010 Appreciation Dinner festivities!

For information on how you can get involved and/or support our efforts with tax-deductible donations, please contact:

Bon Carbo Volunteer Fire Dept. Auxiliary
P.O. Box 26
14589 County Road 57.7
Boncarbo, CO 81024
(719) 846-2399
Office hours: Wednesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
bcvfd_1@netzero.com

Spanish Peaks Volunteer Fire Dept. Auxiliary
P.O. Box 156
121 W. Main
Aguilar, CO 81020
(719) 941-4107
spanishpeaksbase@hotmail.com

Firefighter of the Year

2009-12-14T11:51:00.000-07:00

At our 2009 Firefighter Appreciation Dinner, Captain Wyatt Lisonbee was chosen as SPVFD's Firefighter of the Year!

Wyatt, who has served the Department for three years, has served various officer positions including Lieutenant and Captain. He has taught training sessions, and been a wonderful leader for our less experienced firefighters. He also serves as Mentor for Las Animas County Fire Chief's Association's developing Junior Firefighter Program, and has made some wonderful contributions as this program continues to grow and develop.

In 2009, Captain Lisonbee responded to 67 calls. He held Incident Command for the duration of the Spirit Mountain Fire, a daunting structure fire that had the potential to spread to neighboring homes and wild land areas. He has been praised by fellow Officers and Firefighters for his ability to take charge when needed.

Captain Lisonbee was presented with a plaque thanking him for his service at the Firefighter Appreciation Dinner!

Rookie Firefighter of the Year

2009-12-10T11:59:00.000-07:00

At the 2009 Firefighter Appreciation Dinner, Firefighter Derek Grubb was chosen as Spanish Peaks Volunteer Fire Department's Rookie Firefighter of the Year!

Derek joined the department in February of 2009. Despite having knee surgery in May that took him off his feet for several weeks, and required limited duty for several more weeks Derek responded to 16 incidents in 2009, once he was cleared from Probational Status. In 2009, Derek completed an amazing 329 hours of training. He completed his S130/190 training online while recouperating from his surgery, completed S-215, Fire Operations in the Urban/Wildland Interface, Pumps and Water, and various in house trainings. Additionally, Derek completed his First Responder class, and his EMT-Basic class.

Derek is also a Mentor for the Las Animas County Fire Chief's Association's Junior Firefighter program, and hopes to take his National Registry EMT-B test very soon. Derek's commitment to the Fire Service, and to the residents of our District, is to be applauded!

Derek was presented with a plaque commending his efforts at the 2009 Firefighter Appreciation Dinner.

Annual Appreciation Dinner

2009-10-30T11:43:00.001-06:00

Our annual Appreciation Dinner, hosted this year by the BCVFD, will be held on Saturday, November 14th to show our volunteer firefighters and auxiliary members how much we value their support and participation in both the Spanish Peaks and Bon Carbo Volunteer Fire Departments.

Farmers' Market Results

2009-09-01T11:04:00.000-06:00

This year's Farmers' Market was a rousing success - not only did the weather hold until clean-up time, but many warm and generous people stopped by our booth.

Dave Harris's breads sold like the proverbial "hot cakes", especially his scrumptious stone ground honey wheat bread. Also flying off the tables were mouthwatering brownies, muffins, cookies, loaf cakes and lemon squares!

A giant THANK YOU goes out to all of our volunteers: those who turned on their ovens in near 90 degree weather and baked their little hearts out in support for our cause; those who helped in the set up/take down process at the event site, etc.; and those who handled the all-important work of manning the booth. To those of you who managed to do all three, well - you're just amazing!

Another great big THANK YOU goes out to all the people who, in these hard economic times, were kind enough to lay their money down in support of our volunteer fire department.

All told, the Bon Carbo Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary earned a whopping $420 to be used to purchase food, supplies and equipment for our firefighters that's not covered by the District budget.

Animals in the Environment

2009-07-30T14:20:00.000-06:00

With our hot dry, weather, it's a good idea to be aware of what kinds of "critters" we may run in to as we play outside. Los Angeles Fire Department has a great article involving this. Click here for more!

Farmers' Market

2009-07-29T09:57:00.001-06:00

Please join us at the annual Trinidad/Las Animas County Farmers' Market on Saturday, August 15, 2009. The location is Cimino Park, one block east of the Safeway parking lot, on the corner of Convent Street and Modica Drive, in Trinidad and is open to the public from 8 a.m. to noon.

There will be baked goods aplenty, including homemade brownies, cookies, and the deliciously tempting breads of our Auxiliary President, Dave Harris, that attendees so look forward to each year.

The monies earned from the sale of our tasty treats will be used to purchase food and supplies to take to our volunteer firefighters when they're called upon to protect our community and surrounding areas. Each and every one of us at the Bon Carbo Volunteer Fire Department appreciate your support and hope to see you at the event, even if you just stop by to say "Hi".

Summer Tips: Avoid Sunscreen Mistakes

2009-07-28T13:36:00.000-06:00

KeepKidsHealthy.com passes on these important tips for summer sunscreen use:

Use sunscreen-even late in the day or when you think you won't be outside for long

Use enough sunscreen, and reapply it often, especially if you or your child are in the water or sweating

Make sure you don't miss important areas-the tip of your nose, upper thighs, your ears, and your baby's head (they often don't have enough hair to give them much protection there)

Don't put sunscreen on right before you go outside-it's most effective when applied about 30 minutes before you go out into the sun

Don't let your kids play outside when the sun is strongest-between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm

Provide yourself and your kids with shade-just because they have sunblock on doesn't mean they won't necessarily need to escape the heat

Have a safe and happy summer!

SPVFD Auxiliary Flea Market

2009-07-26T13:42:00.000-06:00

Spanish Peaks Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary will hold their annual Flea Market on Saturday, August 1, from 8:00 am until 4:00 pm. We already have a great variety of folks who will be selling their wares, and some great donations from the public will be sold by the Auxiliary as well.

We are also planning our bake sale, so come on down to get fresh bread, brownies, cinnamon rolls and other goodies baked by our auxiliary members without having to heat up your own kitchen. We'd love for you to join us! See you there!

Creating Defensible Space

2009-07-24T13:17:00.000-06:00

Creating defensible space is important in our wild fire prone area. To learn how to effectively do so, visit the Firewise site!

Preparing for a Wild Fire Evacuation

2009-07-22T13:25:00.000-06:00

Living in drought locked Southern Colorado, a good rain doesn’t mean an end to high fire danger. In fact, it would take a rain of biblical proportions to allow us to relax in our worry about wild fire. While we’ve had a few good soakings lately, any wood thicker than your finger is still dry and brittle, meaning the threat of a large wild fire is still something you should take very seriously.

In the event of a large wild fire in our area, several steps will be taken to help insure the safety of the residents of our community, including putting specific areas in the path of a fire on a “Standby to Evacuate” order. However, due to fire’s unpredictable nature, this step may be skipped. You may literally have only a few minutes to prepare to evacuate. It is essential, therefore, that you have a plan should the need arise to evacuate.

Planning for an evacuation should be done now, not when the need to do so is imminent. If you plan now, you will be able to leave the danger area quickly, minimizing your risk of getting stuck in traffic or having to risk returning to your home because you left behind something valuable.

To begin your plan, find or buy a three ring binder, and label it “Evacuation Plan”. This plan will become your guide should the need ever arise for you to evacuate. If you have your plan in place, you will be able to leave sooner.

First, make a list of what you want to take. For most people, this includes cherished heirlooms, photos, animals, etc. Your list should also include food and water for everyone in the home, including animals, for at least three days, a first aid kid, clothing, important documents such as insurance paper work and social security cards, extras of any medications you are on, and cash. In a widespread evacuation, such as happened with the Hayman Fire, you may have to travel many miles to find an ATM with cash available. For the first draft of your list, include everything.

Next, sit down with your family and discuss the list. They may have additions. At this time, also determine where you will meet in case of an evacuation. An evacuation can occur at any time, and various family members may be at home, work, or school, and phone lines may be hampered by fire or firefighting efforts. Establishing a central meeting place is essential. In our home, everyone knows that if we have to evacuate, we will go to Grandma’s house, far enough north and east that we will be out of range of the fire.

When you sit down with your family, you will also need to discuss safe evacuation routes. You should know every route to the highway from your location. Your primary route to the highway is probably also the primary route for 100, or 1000, other people, who will all be trying to leave at the same time you are. If an alternate route is safe, consider taking that one, and make sure you know it well before the need to evacuate. Anyone who may be driving a vehicle should be familiar with these routes.

As you look at the list, look for ways you can pare it down. In an emergency, you may only be given a few short minutes to get out of your home. Instead of grabbing all of your photo albums, make it a priority to copy every picture onto a CD or DVD, and mail it to a friend or family member well away from your area. This way you will be able to reprint those important pictures if needed. Copies of important documents can also be stored at faraway locations. If you need your computer to work, learn how to pull the hard drive out quickly if you won’t have room to fit the entire tower in your vehicle. If you have livestock to worry about, you will need a detailed plan of how you will move them and where you will shelter them if the need arises. This takes time and effort, and many temporary shelters will not have room or provisions for livestock. You may need to prepare yourselves for the decision to open the gates and let them fend for themselves.

Next, you should start putting together the items you will need, gathering them in a central location in an easy to carry bag or box. This is typically called a “bug out bag”. Each family member should have their own bug out bag, and in each bag should be clothing, food, water, and medications for three days. Carrying three days’ worth of water will be difficult, but more could be stored in the car during summer months. Another bag should be gathered that includes pet food and water, special papers if you haven’t been able to copy them and send them elsewhere, and any other items you cannot live without. The items that are in your bug out bag can be taken off your list. At this point, your list should read something like this:

Bug out bags
Dog leash
Aunt Mary’s lamp
First aid kit

Yes, it should be that short, because everything else you need should be copied elsewhere or in your bug out bag. In our home, with five children, two of whom are still in diapers, we have a “bug out box”, which is a large Rubbermaid tote, plus several bags. Despite how much stuff we bug out with, we can be out of the house in less than fifteen minutes. This is essential in our fire prone area. It has taken us awhile to be able to stock it with duplicates of items we use often, such as diapers, wipes, and children’s Tylenol, but as we were able to purchase an item to go in the bug out bag, it was crossed off the list of items to grab in the Evacuation Guide, so it was one less thing to worry about. I do go through the box and bags seasonally to update clothing for sizing and possible weather conditions.

As you’re making your guide, you need to add some things to it you may not have thought about, to make sure that your home is as prepared as you can make it.

Turn on the radio. Local radio stations will have instructions regarding the evacuation.
Place any vehicles you are not taking with you in the garage, pointing out, with keys inside and windows rolled up. Close the garage door, leaving it unlocked. If need be, disconnect the electric garage door opener so that the door can be opened manually.
If you have patio furniture, move it inside.
Shut off your propane at the tank or natural gas at the meter.
Close all exterior vents.
Coat your home with Thermo-Gel (If you do not have thermo-gel or do not know what it is, the Fire Department can help you to obtain it)
Prop a ladder against the house so firefighters have easy access to the roof.
Make sure that all garden hoses are connected to faucets and attach a nozzle set on spray.
Fill bathtubs, sinks and other containers with water.
Close all exterior doors and windows.
Close all interior doors.
Open the fireplace damper, but place the screen over the hearth to prevent sparks and embers from entering the house.
Leave light on in each room.
Remove lightweight and or non-fire-resistant curtains and other combustible materials from around windows.
If available, close fire-resistant drapes, shutters or venetian blinds. Attach pre-cut plywood panels to the exterior of windows and glass doors.
Turn off all pilot lights.
Move all overstuffed furniture (couches, easy chairs, beds) to the center of the room.

While these items may help your home survive a wild fire, they are secondary to the preservation of your family. If you do not have time to safely complete this list, then don’t! Often, these are items that can be completed if you are under a “Stand-by to Evacuate” or “Prepare to Evacuate” order when you have more than just a few minutes.

Most importantly, do not wait until given an order to evacuate to leave, if you feel that your safety is in jeopardy. If you feel that you are in danger, call 911 and leave. Fires start and spread quickly in our area, and it is essential that you report any fire that you see, even if you think someone else may have done so. If you weren’t already aware of the fire through the media or fire department personnel, then you should call and report it.

And, last but not least, don’t forget to practice! Just like when you were in school, practice makes perfect. Have a friend call when you are unprepared and start a drill, completing tasks just as you would in a real emergency. Run a variety of scenarios, such as one where you are told to prepare and you have plenty of time, and one when you have only a few minutes. Practicing your plan means you are less likely to panic when a real emergency happens!

Burn Permits

2009-07-22T13:15:00.001-06:00

Burn permits are being issued on a case-by-case basis. The determination is made by what you are burning as well as weather conditions. Please call the Spanish Peaks Volunteer Fire Department if you need a burn permit.

Medical Information Dry Erase Refrigerator Boards

2009-07-01T15:11:00.000-06:00

This year the Spanish Peaks Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary is selling Medical Information Dry Erase boards that can be placed on your refrigerator.

The information on this board describes medication taken, provides emergency call information as well as doctors and telephone numbers. We are selling them for $5.00. All the proceeds will benefit the Spanish Peaks Volunteer Fire Department.

These dry erase boards will be available for purchase at the Auxiliary Flea Market, August 1, 2009, at the Spanish Peaks Fire Department, Aguilar Station, and at the Gulnare Days Festival, August 8-9, at the Spanish Peaks Inn. You can also pick one up by stopping by the Aguilar Station Tuesday-Thursday from 9 am until 3 pm.

Fireworks

2009-06-30T10:36:00.001-06:00

Las Animas County has banned all fireworks, including those that do not leave the ground.

Fireworks displays will be held in Raton and Walsenburg.

Raton's fireworks display is part of an all day Independence Day Celebration beginning at 7:00 am in downtown Raton.

Walsenburg's fireworks display is sponsored by the hospital. Parking is available at Lathrop State Park with a Parks Pass, available for $6.00 at the gate.

Forest Health/Firewise Workshop

2009-06-30T09:59:00.000-06:00

July 11, 2009

Walsenburg Community Center

928 Russell Avenue, Walsenburg, CO

Agenda:

9:00-10:30
Firewise Presentation by Colorado State Forest Service
Judy Serby, Conservation Education Program Manager, Outreach Division
Lisa Mason, Outreach Forrester

10:30-10:45
Break

10:45-11:40
Community Wildfire Protection Plans Presentation by Colorado State Forest SErvice
Judy Serby, Conservation Education Program Manager, Outreach Division
Lisa Mason, Outreach Forester

11:40-12:00
"Only You Can Protect Forest Health"
Video by Colorado State Forest Service

12:00-1:00
BYO Lunch and Open Discussion

1:00-1:30
Forest Health Coalition Mission, Goals and Collaboration
Diana Novacek, President, Forest Health Coalition

1:30-2:30
Fire Behavior, Preparing for Wildfire
CK Morey, Colorado State Forest Service, La Veta District Forester

2:30-2:45
Break

2:35-3:30
Mechanical Fuel Mastication-What is a BullHog and What Can It Do For You?
Noble Whitley-BullHog Owner/Operator
Plus-"Forestry in Action"
Video by Colorado State Forest Service

If you plan on attending, please email Cissy Severance at cmseverance@scw-inc.com so that she will bring your free Firewise Notebok ($60 value).

Spanish Peaks/Bon Carbo Fire Protection District

2009-06-29T15:04:00.000-06:00

To our Fire District Citizens:

I am proud to say that the Spanish Peaks Volunteer fire Department performed extremely well in 2008. under the leadership of Chief Mike Zanolini, the team has grown in number and performs at a very high leel serving our large community with integrity and care.

The Spanish Peaks VFD covers a very large area-approximately 510 square miles. This includes the city of Aguilar. To accomplish this, the Chief and his team have recruited and trained new volunteer firefighters. he has a very professional approach in guding his team while serving the community.

We appreciate the support of the Auxiliary. Their efforts in supporting the firefighters is so essential throughout the year. From meals to extract washing machines, fire signs to candy bars, flea markets to station cleaning, they are always there to assist our team at the Spanish Peaks Fire Station.

We will continue to support the team at the SPVFD and hope that you will too. We welcome your suggestions and your support.

Sincerely,

Colleen Williams, Board President
Spanish Peaks/Bon Carbo Fire Protection District

Independence Day: Drills for the Grill

2009-06-29T09:48:00.000-06:00

From the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service Website:

Food Safety Education Staff: Donna Karlsons (301) 344-4764 WASHINGTON, June 29, 2009 —

The Fourth of July is coming soon. Many of us will celebrate with a day of outdoor activities and tasty meats from the grill. The chef of your household might have the skills to cook the perfect burger, but do they know the food safety "drills of the grill?"

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service is providing food safety recommendations for outdoor cooking celebrations that typically mark the holiday weekend."Safe food handling is always important," says FSIS Administrator Alfred V. Almanza, "but during the warm summer months — peak grilling season — there is an increased need for awareness of safe food handling practices." As the mercury rises in thermometers during the summer, so do cases of foodborne illness. This makes summer the ideal time to "grill" the food safety experts from USDA's FSIS about cooking and handling foods safely to avoid foodborne illness.

FSIS offers advice to consumers with questions about safe handling and preparation of meat and poultry products, including the five foods grilled most often: hamburgers, steak, chicken, hot dogs, and ribs. Here's advice for smoking and grilling food safely:

Smoking and Grilling Food Safely Smoking is a process of slowly cooking food indirectly near a fire. "Indirectly" means that the meat is not placed directly over the heat source but over a drip pan of water placed underneath the meat on the grill. Steam from the water helps destroy harmful bacteria that can cause foodborne illness. A covered grill and a drip pan can also be used for smoking food.

To ensure meat and poultry are smoked safely, two types of thermometers are needed: one for the food and one for the smoker. Many smokers have built-in thermometers. A thermometer is needed to monitor the air temperature in the smoker or grill to be sure the heat stays between 225 and 300 °F throughout the cooking process. It's important to keep the air hot enough to destroy bacteria as the meat cooks.

When using a charcoal-fired smoker, use commercial charcoal briquettes or aromatic wood chips. Set the smoker in a well-lit, well-ventilated area away from trees, shrubbery, and buildings. Only use approved fire starters — never gasoline or paint thinner, for example.

Meat for grilling is placed on a grate directly over the fire. The best cuts to grill are relatively thin cuts of meat or poultry: chicken parts, burgers, and steaks. Because grills cook food directly over high heat, tender cuts grill best. Unless the grill is being used as a smoker, the lid should stay open.

Use A Food Thermometer When Grilling or Smoking FoodUse a food thermometer to determine the temperature of the meat or poultry. Oven-safe thermometers can be inserted in the meat and remain there during smoking. Use an instant-read thermometer after the meat is removed from the smoker. Cooking time depends on many factors: the type and cut of meat, its size and shape, the distance of food from the heat, the temperature of the coals, and the weather. It can take anywhere from 4 to 8 hours to smoke meat or poultry, so it's imperative to use thermometers to monitor temperatures. Cook food to a safe minimum internal temperature:

Beef, veal and lamb steaks, roasts, and chops may be cooked to 145 °F.

All cuts of pork to 160 °F.

Ground beef, veal, and lamb to 160 °F.

All poultry should reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F.

More Food Safety Tips In addition to being food safe using a grill or smoker, follow these food handling tips to keep your cookout safe:

Thaw meat and poultry before smoking it.

Never defrost food at room temperature.

Use the microwave oven for rapid thawing, but smoke or grill the meat immediately because some areas may begin to cook during the defrosting.

Always marinate food in the refrigerator, not on the counter.

When taking food off the grill, use a clean platter. Don't put cooked food on the same platter that held raw meat or poultry. Any harmful bacteria present in the raw meat juices could contaminate safely cooked food.

Refrigerate any leftovers promptly in shallow containers. Discard any food left out more than 2 hours (1 hour if temperatures are above 90 °F).

For more information on smoking and barbecuing, go to http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/Barbecue_Food_Safety/index.asp and http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/Smoking_Meat_and_Poultry/index.asp. For more information in English and Spanish, call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854); TTY: 1-800-256-7072. The Hotline's hours are Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Eastern Time, year-round. An extensive selection of timely food safety messages is also available at the same number 24 hours a day. Information can also be accessed on the FSIS Web site at www.fsis.usda.gov.

Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov. E-mail inquiries may be directed to MPHotline.fsis@usda.gov. Podcasts and SignFSIS video-casts in American Sign Language featuring text-captioning are available on the Web at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/news_&_events/multimedia/.

2008 Chief's Report

2009-06-26T14:49:00.000-06:00

2008 was a busy year for the Spanish Peaks Fire Department. SPVFD had over 140 calls in 2008. This was a slight decrease from 2007; the most notable decrease was in the number of structure fires. Medical calls continued to account for the greatest number of calls in our area.

In 2008, we did not add any large equipment, instead focusing on tools and protective equipment to make our firefighters safer and able to respond to calls more effectively. We put automatic tire chains on both of our structure engines so that they could respond to structure fires in teh winter in a safer manner. We also ordered a small amount of Personal Protective Equipment to allow our firefighters to safely fight structure fires. Sidewinders were added to two of our brush trucks, for more effective storage of hose.

It is important to note that residents of the town of Aguilar are now required to obtain a burn permit for any burning they wish to do, including burning in a barrel and burning yard debris. All residents of Las Animas County are required to obtain a burn permit to burn any type of waste. Weather conditions must be optimal before we will issue a burn permit: humdity must be above 15%, wind speed must be below 5 mph, and the temerpature must be below 100 degrees. Even if it seems that weather conditions are perfect in the morning, we may decline to issue a permit if weather forecasts show that weather conditions will not remain optimal through the remainder of the day.

SPVFD has participated in a great deal of training in the past year. Two more of our volunteer firefighters took the EMT-B course offered at TSJC, allowing them to take the National Registry test and become EMTs. Several firefighters have completed required wildland firefighter classes, and this year we will be holding intensive structure firefighter classes. This year, we also hosted a county wide class in Firefighting in the Urban Interface, which taught skills regarding wildfires that approach towns or subdividions. Five SPVFD firefighters successfully completed this class.

We are continuing to work on our mapping project, enableing us to not only respond to locations quicker, but to be aware before we even get to a fire scene, what kind of terrain and structures may be involved in a wildland fire. This project will be on-going for several years, and we welcome help from Home Owners Associations as they map their subidivisions and update prior information.

The SPVFD Auxiliary has once again been a tremendous help to our firefighters. The Auxiliary provides food for our training sessions, as well as making sure that firefighters hae food, coffee and water available on a fire scene. They have pruchased a washer and dryer for us to clean our Personal Protectie Equipment at the station, meaning that our gear lasts longer and is safer for us to wear. They have also provided our firefighters with new flashlights. The Auxiliary sponsored public safety funcitons and helped us in keeping the community aware of the need for mitigation. I appreciate their efforts.

I would lke to take this time to thank all of our current volunteers. Your hard work, long hours of training, and dedication to the community are appreciated beyond measure. I would especially like to thank Assistant Chief Larry Broach and Dispatcher/Administrative Assistant Keisha Broach for going above and beyond the call of duty in their service to the Spanish Peaks Volunteer Fire Department.

As always, we need your help. SPVFD is always in need of volunteer firefighers. We p-ay for all of your gear and training, and offer an incentive program as a thank you for volunteering your time. Also, if you have an intereste in becoming an EMT, we will pay for that training as well. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer firefighter, you can call the station at 941-4107. Volunteer firefighting is an exciting and rewarding experience!

Thank you,

Mike Zanolini

Fire Chief

Spanish Peaks Volunteer Fire Department

SPVFD Auxiliary Flea Market

2009-06-25T15:26:00.001-06:00

The Spanish Peaks Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary will be holding its' annual flea market on Saturday, August 1, 2009.

Our flea market is a fun and exciting place to pick up household items, yard equipment, children's toys and more!

Tables are available if you would like the opportunity to sell your own items. For information on renting a table, please email SpanishPeaksBase@hotmail.com or call the station at 941-4107.

We will be demonstrating Thermo-Gel, an amazing product that may help save your home in the event of a wildland fire. Please stop by on Saturday to learn all about this wonderful gel, pick up some yummy baked goods, and maybe score the deal of a lifetime!

We are seeking item donations for our flea market. All flea market sales benefit the Spanish Peaks Volunteer Fire Department, and you will receive a receipt upon request for tax purposes. If you have unneeded items around the house, this is a great time to declutter! We would love to help you find a new home for your gently used items. We regret that we are unable to take clothing or large appliances.

Medical Information Dry Erase REfrigerator Boards

2009-06-25T15:11:00.000-06:00

Thank you Firefighters!

2009-06-25T14:43:00.000-06:00

The SPVFD Auxiliary would like to publicly thank all the department personnel for the tremendous effort they put forth during the April 29, 2009 Spirit Mountain Ranch fire.
Due to the location and weather conditions, this fire had the potential to become a far reaching wildland fire which could have destroyed many homes, endangered many residents, and devastated a vast amount of beautiful country.

The actions of the firefighters allowed the fire to be maintained to one residence, keeping the fire from spreading to the extremely dry surrounding forest.

Many of us come to this area for the beauty and peacefulness of a less congested population. Often we forget the exchange for this is reduced services that we never gave much thought to when we had fire stations and ifre hydrants in our immediate neighborhoods.

Fighting a fire in our rural surroundings is a challenge. Our firefighters, all volunteers, overcame difficult property entrances, no hydrants, no street lights, no backup or relief personel, nolocal eatery, no nearby hospital-all the other services that are close by in an urban area.

Thank you especially to Spanish Peaks Volunteer fire Department, Bon Carbo Volunteer Fire Department, Stonewall Volunteer fire Department, Las Animas County Sheriff's Office, and Purgatory Valley Construction for the water!

Firefighters, thank you again for doing a stellar job!

From the Spanish Peaks Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary

Gas In Aguilar

2009-05-22T08:29:00.001-06:00

At 6:34 pm on Thursday, 5/21/09, the natural gas was turned off to the town of Aguilar. This was due to a natural gas supply line rupture near I 25, between mile markers 27 and 28. Crews are on scene to repair the pipeline, and preliminary estimates were 24 hours for repair.

The current estimates for repair are two to three days. At this time, Spanish Peaks Volunteer Fire Department has not received confirmation from Aguilar Town Hall regarding the time frame for repair.

Plans are in place to make arrangements for the residents of the town of Aguilar to be fed dinner on Friday, 5/22/09, and subsequent evenings if need be. We will coordinate efforts with Aguilar Town Hall to make sure that anyone unable to prepare food during the gas outage will be able to receive meals.

Residents are encouraged to call Aguilar Town Hall at 941-4360 during regular office hours with questions.

High Schoolers earn needed Community Service Hours

2009-05-14T12:18:00.001-06:00

Recently, the Aguilar School District implemented a Community Service commitment for graduation. Students must complete a set number of community service hours to earn their diploma. This type of exposure, at a young age, shows our youth what a wonderful feeling it can be to give back to the community, and fosters just the right kind of attitude for volunteering throughout their lives.

In March, Spanish Peaks Volunteer Fire Department was chosen as one of a number of community organizations that the High Schoolers at the Aguilar High School would, as a group, offer their time to. Boy, were we thankful for such an opportunity!

Juniors Laura Kulinski, Blanca Morales, Aimee Hart, and Seniors Lexi Martinez, Justin Barajas, and others gathered in our training room to determine what the day would hold for them, get their gear, and grab something to drink.

First, our volunteers split into two groups, and worked on the landscaping around the Aguilar station:

After bagging up dead leaves, weeds, and trash, our hearty volunteers moved on to the fun stuff:

Truck Washing!

Yes, the trucks just got washed awhile back. However, they often get dirty and dusty from use. Even trucks which aren't actively being used get taken out fairly often to be exercised, so they end up dirty, too!

As you can see, not only did this group work hard, but they had fun, too. And, after spending quite a bit of time at the station, Senior Joe Martinez decided to make even more of a commitment, and join the Department as a Volunteer Firefighter! He joins Senior Justin Barajas and Juniors Aimee Hart and Aaron Dalrick on the Spanish Peaks Volunteer Fire Department. We are truly proud of the commitment that these young people have made to their community by becoming Volunteer Firefighters, and hope to see more join them soon!

A special Thank You! to Shelley Wagner, Junior Class Sponsor, for bringing her students down to give some much needed help with some of our chores!

www.spbcfpd.org

2009-05-07T11:06:00.001-06:00

The Spanish Peaks/Bon Carbo Fire Protection District's website has been updated. Please visit for information regarding the Spanish Peaks Volunteer Fire Department, Volunteer Opportunities, local events and more!

http://www.spbcfpd.org

Gas Safety Meeting

2009-05-07T11:03:00.000-06:00

The town of Aguilar is sponsoring a Gas Safety Meeting at the Aguilar Station of the Spanish Peaks Volunteer Fire Department on Saturday, May 9 at 10:00 am. The public is invited to attend! See you there!

Burn Permits

2009-03-24T13:01:00.000-06:00

The Spanish Peaks Volunteer Fire Department is not currently issuing burn permits. Further, Las Animas County is under a stage one burn ban.

Posted by: Keisha

Training

2009-03-18T09:55:00.000-06:00

In February and March, the Spanish Peaks/Bon Carbo Fire Protection District hosted a multi-day training session for Fire Departments in Las Animas and Huerfano Counties. S-215, Fire Operations in the Wildland/Urban Interface was a valuable class that taught our Wildland Firefighters skills that will help them better evaluate and fight Wildland fires that threaten subdivisions, towns, and cities.

Taught by CK Morey and instructors from FireWorks911, the class was well attended over all four days, including one grueling ten hour day. Spanish Peaks Volunteer Fire Department, Bon Carbo Volunteer Fire Department, Fisher’s Peak Volunteer Fire Department, Stonewall Volunteer Fire Department, Wet Mountain Volunteer Department, and Hoehne Fire Department were all represented at the training, ensuring that these communities will benefit from better trained firefighters. This class was paid for in part by a Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant.

Students and instructors were fed during training by the Bon Carbo VFD Auxiliary and the Spanish Peaks VFD Auxiliary. Menus included Breakfast Burritos, Sandwiches, Pasta, and Sloppy Joes. No one went away hungry!

Burn Permits

2009-03-13T21:18:00.000-06:00

The Spanish Peaks Fire Department is currently issuing burn permits for one day intervals, dependent upon the weather. To activate your burn permit, please call the Spanish Peaks Fire Department at 941-4107. This phone is always answered.

You must have a signed burn permit on file to begin a controlled burn. If you do not have one, please call the station to make arrangements to come into the station to fill one out.

Truck Washing Party

2009-03-13T07:35:00.000-06:00

Truck washing is a necessary part of any Firefighter's job. But in a Volunteer Fire Department, it can be hard to find the time to complete this task.

Towards the end of February, members of the Spanish Peaks Fire Department, and some student volunteers from Aguilar High School, took advantage of the unseasonably warm weather to wash all of the trucks in the Aguilar Station.

Brush 10, muddy from a smoke chase earlier in the year.

Brush 10, after a good session with the power washer.

Brush 10, clean and shiny.

Aguilar High School student volunteers Aimee Hart and Joe Martinez, supervised by Firefighter Justin Barajas.

After working for a few hours, Assistant Chief Larry Broach, Firefighter Justin Barajas, Dispatcher Keisha Broach, and Aguilar High School student volunteers Aimee Hart and Joe Martinez were treated to pizza for lunch, provided by the Spanish Peaks Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary. It's so nice having Adamo's Pizza just down the street! Then we all got back to work!

Taking advantage of the empty bay, Assistant Chief Broach, Firefighters Barajas and David Valdez, and Dispatcher Broach swept and cleaned the bay.

All in all, it was a very productive two days. We got a lot done, and the trucks are all nice and clean-at least until the next incident!

Submitted by: Keisha

Burn Permits

2009-03-12T07:45:00.000-06:00

Spanish Peaks Volunteer Fire Department is not currently issuing burn permits due to extremely dry conditions and high winds. This includes any outdoor burning with the exception of charcoal or propane gas manufactured grills. This also includes burn barrels, pit burning, yard burning, etc, within the town limits of Aguilar. We will update here when we begin issuing burn permits again.

Maytag Refrigerators Recalled Due to Fire Hazard

2009-03-11T14:45:00.000-06:00

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09145.html

The Spanish Peaks Volunteer Fire Department is issuing an alert regarding the recall of some models of Maytag refrigerators. Affected models include Maytag®, Jenn-Air®, Amana®, Admiral®, Magic Chef®, Performa by Maytag® and Crosley® brand refrigerators. Please see the link above for more information.

Posted By: Keisha

Welcome to the Spanish Peaks Volunteer Fire Department Blog!

2009-03-11T14:32:00.000-06:00

We're so glad you decided to stop by and read all about the Spanish Peaks Fire Department!Our blog will be used to alert the communities of Aguilar and Gulnare and surrounding areas of important messages, share news and information about the Spanish Peaks Fire Department, post about upcoming fire department and auxiliary events, talk about volunteer opportunities, and give you a chance to get to know the volunteers that make up the Spanish Peaks Fire Department. Here you will also be able to find information about weather advisories, whether or not we are currently issuing burn permits, links to important product recalls that may affect you, as well as information about fire safety and wild fire mitigation.You can either bookmark our blog, or subscribe to our RSS feed below. We will post at least weekly, and more often as things of interest to the community in and around Aguilar, Gulnare, Apishapa River Ranch, Apishapa River Valley Estates, Aspen Rose Ranch, Big View Estates, Bighorn Ranch, Bighorn Sheep Ranchettes, Blackhawk Ranch, Black Hills Ranch, Cimmarron Ranch, Cordova Mesa, Del Agua Canyon, La Mariposa, Panadero Valley Ranch, Pinon Ridge Estates, Ponderosa Hills, River Pines Ranch, Ridgeview Ranch, Spanish Peaks Ranch, Spanish Peaks Ranch Estates, Spirit Mountain Ranch, Trails West, Trujillo Creek Ranch, Twin Valley Ranch, and Vermillion Ranch. Please visit us weekly to get these important postings!