(ULY 13, 2016) --Numerous workers and a variety of resources from several divisions of the Colorado Department of Public Safety have mobilized to assist with local responses to wildfires throughout Colorado.
The Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) has been providing direct support to local and federal agencies in combating Colorado wildfires through a multitude of channels. Over the weekend of July 9, the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) opened the State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to provide support to local jurisdictions, and more than 20 experts from DHSEM and DFPC have staffed the EOC.
DFPC and DHSEM also have representatives working on-site at the Cold Springs Fire in Boulder County, the Hayden Pass Fire in Fremont County, and the Beaver Creek Fire in Jackson County in Colorado.
Troopers with the Colorado State Patrol were among the first to report the Cold Springs Fire. As fires throughout the state required road closures for public safety reasons or for emergency vehicle access, numerous Troopers have assisted with those closures and with traffic control.
DFPC has deployed Single Engine Air Tankers, two Multi-Mission Aircraft, and three helicopters to assist in combating the Beaver Creek, Cold Springs and Hayden Pass fires. DFPC Fire Management Officers have been assigned to multiple fires to provide direct technical assistance on suppression tactics, incident management, and resource ordering. Emergency Fire Funding has been approved by DFPC Director Mike Morgan for the Beaver Creek, Cold Springs, and Hayden Pass fires. In addition, DFPC staff has facilitated FEMA approval of a Fire Management Assistance Grant allocation for the Cold Springs Fire to assist with firefighting costs.
"We are grateful for the work that all of our service members and first responders are doing to help contain the fires and support those who have been impacted," said Gov. Hickenlooper. ‚"e are continuing to monitor communities affected by the wildfires to ensure they have adequate resources and assistance for those whose lives have been impacted. We ask that residents and visitors be aware of and follow all fire safety protocols while enjoying Colorado\'s great outdoors."
Colorado's Multi-Mission Aircraft are high performance turbo-prop aircrafts that can cruise and work safely at altitudes up to 30,000 feet, using state-of-the-art Infrared-Sensor technology and on-board computer systems to provide real-time wildfire information to incident commanders and firefighters on the ground. In the month of July, the planes have deployed 11 times in support of large fires across the state. Those fires include the Cold Springs, Beaver Creek and Hayden Pass Fires. While on mission, the aircraft have provided intelligence and mapping services for the large, ongoing incidents. he crew is able to provide incident specific information to ground personnel that aides the Incident Commander in prioritizing suppression efforts and activities. This technology is proving its value by enhancing public and firefighter safety while protecting property and values at risk.
"The response from the State and Federal cooperators has been outstanding. We\'ve received the resources we needed in a timely and well-coordinated fashion," Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle said. "The flow of information between agencies and out to the community has been outstanding and has contributed to a highly successful fire suppression operation and a tremendous amount of community support. The MMA aircraft was critical to Command Staff in helping us make attack and resource plans based on real time, accurate data. This data helps us make quick, intelligent decisions on how to use the resources on hand in the most effective and efficient manner."
DFPC and DHSEM will continue to support local agencies and communities combat the fires. To learn more about Colorado's Multi-Mission Aircraft, visit us online.