Spanish Peaks Mud Race

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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!

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

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