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Working Together Making Southwest Colorado a Safer Place to Live

By Laurie Robison and Pam Wilson Southwest Colorado experienced a record- or poorly extingushed , cigarettes The drought of the last several years has setting season in 2002. The human- thrown out the car window, kids playing with left our trees in a weakened condition, making caused Missionary Ridge fire quickly became and , and inadequate them susceptible to insects and disease. the largest fire in the area’s history at 70,485 arresters on four-wheelers and other vehicles. Experts say we still have a ways to go to acres, and captured the attention of every And those are just the more typical ways recover from the drought, so be thankful for resident for almost two months. start. the recent rain and snow — but don’t become There were eight fires in excess of 100 Last year it was so dry the atypical happened. complacent. Do your part to help protect your acres in size, four of them human-caused, and A fire started from a tooth on a power saw blade home, your neighbor’s home, and our forests. the Durango Interagency Dispatch Center sent that chipped off and landed in vegetation; firefighting resources to 340 fires between another fire started from an electric fence March 13 and October 8. Thirty-one of the designed to keep weeds in check. When it’s hot 340 wildfires in southwest Colorado were and dry, think the unthinkable. Before you do human-caused. something in the heat of the day, in the middle Inside Fire is an important part of the forest of fire season, ask yourself – could this start a ecosystem in southwest Colorado. Prescribed fire? Be smart, be responsible, think it through Pg. 2 fires and some lightning-caused fires can be first. The National Fire Plan useful tools for fire managers when conditions You also need to be smart and responsible Community Fire Plans Created are appropriate. But unplanned, human- about your home. You’re the one who chose to Local Fire Departments and caused fires are undesirable — they tend to live here. You’re the one who wanted a home in Homeowners Receive Grants occur when fuels and weather are driest, the woods. What you do to create defensible Pg. 3 temperatures are high, and firefighting space around your home is the single most resources are stretched thin. important factor when it comes Returning Fire to the Forest Southwest Colorado is a to saving it from wildfire. Pg. 4 desirable place to live and as Obviously, there are no Reducing Fuels - It’s All in the Pre more people make this area guarantees when a powerful scription their home, we find more force of nature is involved, but people recreating in the there are things you can do to Pg. 5 forests, more homes in the increase the odds that your Wildland Fire Use wildland-urban interface, and home will survive. When Lightning Strikes a higher probability of We saw many examples in human-caused fires. Factor Durango and throughout the Pg. 6-7 in record drought conditions West last summer that Proposed Fuels-Reduction Projects and build-up that will defensible space does help for 2003 on the San Juan Public Lands take years to mitigate protect your home. It gets the successfully, and we have a fire out of the tree crowns and Pg. 8 situation that causes a great back on the ground, where Beetles, Beetles, and More Beetles deal of concern. firefighters can control it Pg. 9 We can’t prevent better. lightning-caused fires, but we With assistance from the Missionary Ridge Rehabilitation can lessen the intensity and Office of Community Services Hotshot Crew Earns Certification the damage by treating at Fort Lewis College, five A recently thinned BLM parcel in the Pg. 10 lightning-prone areas. This counties in southwest midst of the Forest Lakes subdivision, What Are You Waiting For? means thinning forested north of Bayfield. Colorado now have areas or creating buffer Community Fire Plans. These Pg. 11 zones, especially those in the wildland-urban plans are helping the Forest Service and BLM Fire Restrictions on San Juan Public interface — where public and private lands prioritize where to conduct their fuel-reduction Lands meet. efforts. These agencies want to be good neighbors On the other hand, with everyone’s help, — if you live next to federal lands and have a Pg. 12 we can prevent human-caused fires. Each year large build-up of fuels near your home that you Colorado Legislation Promotes Good fires are started by carelessness: abandoned think needs to be treated, let them know. Neighbors 2 Fire & Fuels in Southwest Colorado - Summer 2003 Helping Agencies, Helping Communities The National Fire Plan After the 2000 fire season, which burned 2.3 million acres of The Pagosa Public Lands Office has one engine with a crew of five National Forest System land, the most in 91 years, the U.S. Department and this year has added a 7-person fuels crew that will be scouting of Agriculture and U.S. Department of the Interior released a report potential areas for fuels-reduction treatments, and laying out treatment that became the basis for the National Fire Plan (NFP). This plan units. increased Forest Service funding by $1.8 billion and was designed to: With adequate staffing in place, managers then began looking at 1. Ensure adequate firefighting resources, ways that the agencies could offer community assistance. Through the 2. Rebuild communities damaged in the fires of 2000 and Office of Community Services at Fort Lewis College, and with the rehabilitate fire-damaged ecosystems, cooperation of the Colorado State Forest Service, local fire departments, 3. Work with local residents to reduce fire risk and improve volunteer fire departments, and interested citizens, Community Fire fire protection, and Plans were developed for five counties. These collaboratively developed 4. Reduce fuels in forests at risk from catastrophic fire plans offer both local and federal land managers a tool to assist them effects, especially those near communities. in planning future fuels-reduction and education efforts. Southwest Managers at the San Juan Public Lands Center focused first on Colorado is one of the first areas of the country to have such plans. ensuring adequate firefighting resources, which includes not just The original partnership continues to grow and expand to include firefighters but also support personnel. At the PLC this includes two new partners, like local nonprofit organizations. In April, these groups fire prevention and education specialists, a fire information officer, a banded together to raise awareness and provide education fire ecologist, a landscape architect, GIS support, and the San Juan oppportunities for Fire Prevention and Education Month. Hotshot Crew. Local and volunteer fire departments have benefited from the NFP At the field offices, the support personnel include hydrologists, through Community Assistance Grants, which provided them with the archeologists, and wildlife biologists. These people help plan fuels- financial resources to obtain or upgrade equipment and personal reduction projects, and may also assist in prescribed burning or wildland protective gear, allowing them to better work side-by-side with federal firefighting. firefighters as the number of wildland fires increases. The Dolores Public Lands Office has three engines, with a crew of The NFP has provided local, state, and federal agencies with the five people. people, equipment, and partnership opportunities to create healthier The Columbine Public Lands Office has one engine with a crew of forest conditions. However, the wildland fire risk remains high in many five people and one hand crew of 10 people that performs initial attack areas because of fuels build-up due to decades of fire suppression, on wildland fires. extended drought conditions, and the growing wildland-urban interface.

Working Towards Healthy Forests and Healthy Communities Community Fire Plan CommCommCommunity FFunity iririre Plans Creaeaeatedtedted Accomplishments

By Pam Wilson ! Community Wildfire series — The National Fire Plan advocated the cre- as density and type of vegetation; access, both articles on issues related to wild- ation of community action plans to deal with to water and properties; fire department re- fire hazard and mitigation hazardous fuels. sponse time; and subdivision locations. The fire In 2001, the Forest Service, BLM, and plans also identify: ! Colorado Counties Inc. Work- Colorado State Forest Service partnered with • strategies for protecting community shop in May 2002 the Office of Community Services at Fort Lewis values such as watersheds, resi- ! Federal monies to Colorado College to work with local fire managers and dences, and recreation and economic State Forest Service to hire ad- interested citizens to develop Community Fire resources; Plans for Montezuma, Dolores, La Plata, • strategies private landowners can use ditional mitigation specialists, to Archuleta, and San Juan Counties. The plans to reduce wildfire risks; help with homeowner assess- were completed in the spring of 2002. These • local needs for fire suppression ments collaboratively developed plans: equipment and training; ! Montezuma County require- • describe the community; • potential public/private lands fuels- ments for Wildfire Mitigation • relate fire risk to where people live, work, demonstration projects that illustrate Plans for new developments and play; fuels-mitigation techniques and re- • reflect community values; sults; and ! Establishment of “demonstra- • describe potential actions to reduce fire • public education strategies. tion” sites in Archuleta, La Plata, risk; Mike Preston, federal lands liaison with and Montezuma Counties • describe needs of local and volunteer fire Montezuma County, says the Community Fire departments; and Plan has been a big asset to Montezuma County. ! One-stop shopping for informa- • provide federal agencies a foundation to “We are moving ahead with all the recommen- tion on defensible space, wild- implement the NFP. dations in the plan,” he said. fire hazard and mitigation issues, With the exception of San Juan County, all the The plans are available from the Office of fire information, Missionary counties mapped areas they felt were at some Community Services and on the Web at: Ridge Rehabilitation efforts, and degree of risk from wildfire, using criteria such www.southwestcoloradofires.org. more on the Web at: www.southwestcoloradofires.org

Community Assistance Local Fire Departments and Homeowners Receiveceiveceive GrGre antsantsants

By Dan Ochocki, Colorado State Forest Service WWWestern States Wildland-Urban Interface Grantantant Two very important aspects of Community Assistance under the ProgrProgrProgramamam National Fire Plan, approved by Congress in Fall of 2000, involved grant To provide an incentive for rural landowners to take steps to reduce opportunities for both rural fire departments and private landowners. fuels build-up around their homes, cost-share grant money was made available. Requests submitted by applicants were reviewed, prioritized, VVVolunteer Fire and Rururural Fire Assistance Grantsantsants and awarded by a statewide committee. In southwest Colorado, $54,700 In 2002, all federal and state land management agencies (USFS, BLM, in grant dollars was awarded to six projects involving over 60 NPS, BIA, CSFS) contributed funds to provide grants to 13 local Fire landowners. The grants were used to assist landowners in: Protection Districts and Sheriff’s Offices throughout the five-county 1. Tree thinning, to reduce fuel available to a wildfire. southwest Colorado region. Over $76,000 in matching grant dollars 2. Creating defensible space, both to protect the home and allow was distributed to: firefighters a relatively secure place to defend a home if a wildfire 1. Provide wildland firefighting training. approaches. 2. Purchase personal protective equipment (PPE) for firefighters 3. Tree pruning, to eliminate “ladder fuels.” to assure they are protected with the best possible equipment 4. Disposing of slash, to reduce the available ground fuel. as they battle wildfires. Last fall (November, 2002) grant applications were solicited for 2003 3. Purchase much-needed equipment such as tools, hose, nozzles, projects. Eighteen individual landowners and 18 separate subdivisions etc. submitted grant requests. Grant-award decisions have not yet been The grant dollars were all cost-share grants, typically requiring a 50- made for 2003. 50 by selected recipients. Hopefully, additional funding will be Grant applications are available in the fall from the Colorado available for 2003. State Forest Service. Fire & Fuels in Southwest Colorado - Summer 2003 3 Restoration Forestry Returning Fire to the Forest

By Gail Binkly Forests thrive on disturbances suppression. The combination of century. These forests now shrubs, which can carry fire into like fire, insects, and disease. these elements has left forest typically experience less frequent treetops. Disturbances affect and are ecosytems out of whack. but higher-intensity fires, as These treatments also improve affected by the structure and “Those (historic) pine stands evidenced by the last 10 years of wildlife habitat for many creatures composition of the forest. had frequent fires,” Frye said. “The fires in the West. on the San Juan National Forest’s Disturbance maintains diversity in ladder fuels (such as shrubs and Restoring fire in upper- list of “sensitive species,” those the forest, by creating a mosaic of scrub oak) never had a chance to elevation spruce-fir forests may be whose populations are in decline, vegetation communities and get really established.” more of a political issue than an Frye said. “Their habitat needs are wildlife habitats. Without But throughout most of the ecological one. These forests are such that most require a very disturbance, forests would lose 20th century, forest managers not as likely to burn without open-growing pine forest with large diversity and be less resilient and squelched fires and encouraged factors such as drought, high trees. That’s one of the reasons we less healthy ecosystems. intense logging, dramatically temperatures, low relative feel restoration is the way to go.” In most cases, restoring forest altering the land’s ecology. humidities, and wind present. Prescribed burns were used as health and reducing fire risk go “That’s the way they were Under such extreme conditions, early as 1974 for fuel reduction on hand in hand in ponderosa-pine taught,” Frye said. “In the past, ponderosa pine and other low- the San Juan, said Frye. Later, forests. Though the two goals may they tried to manage for maximum elevation forest types could be more burning was done, but differ somewhat, they can often be fiber production, which created experiencing large crown fires at foresters realized it wasn’t achieved simultaneously by using even spacing and even-aged tree the same time, which could make sufficient to create healthy forest the same methods, experts say. stands.” it difficult for land managers to conditions, and began to include “If you look at stands where The effects of fire exclusion are allow fires inthe spruce-fir to burn. mechanical tree-thinning in their restoration treatment has been complex, according to Roz Wu, fire Fortunately, the same methods treatments. done, you’d get pretty much 100 ecologist for the San Juan Public land managers use to improve Now, foresters have embraced percent agreement that you’ve Lands. The most affected forest forest health also reduce the risk both methods, using timber sales reduced the fuels and fire risk as types are those that had high- of catastrophic wildfire. Thinning to help with tree-thinning. But well,” said Phil Kemp, forester with today’s logging operations are the Dolores Public Lands Office. different than in the past, with Bob Frye, supervisory loggers taking small-diameter trees biological scientist with the Pagosa and leaving older, bigger pines. Public Lands Office, agreed. “When you mention a timber “Where possible, our philosophy is sale, most people visualize that the best fuels-reduction work clearcuts,” said Frye. But that’s is pine-restoration work,” he said. not the norm for ponderosa forests In the ponderosa stands that today. Results of restoration cover much of the San Juan and forestry and fuels-reduction other forests of the West, treatments can be viewed at a restoration means returning the number of demonstration sites ecosystem to pre-European across the San Juan Public Lands. condition. Most are pleased by the scenic Tree-ring data, historic photos meadows and clumps of vigorous of sites before logging, and other trees. evidence indicate that ponderosa All San Juan Public Lands forests of the past had far fewer offices have planned prescribed trees per acre than today’s. Instead burns planned for this spring and of dense stands of small trees fall, depending on conditions. choked by thick oak brush, the old Burns are often 1,500-2,000 forests had widely spaced clumps acres in size and may take several of trees of varying sizes and ages. The lack of shrubs and the openess of stands in this forest on the west side of the Continental years to complete. “We go big for a Between them were grassy Divide are due to the periodic, low-intensity fires that occurred in the 19th century. circa 1908 lot of reasons,” Frye said. “It’s more meadows with a variety of natural, it’s more effective if you vegetation for wildlife. frequency, low-intensity fire overcrowded trees results in want to change fire behavior, and Widespread fires ceased regimes, like ponderosa pine, bigger, more robust remaining it’s more cost-effective.” around 1880 in this area, warm/dry mixed-conifer stands, trees that can resist low-level fires All burns are following the concurrent with Euro-American and possibly some piñon-juniper and are spaced so flames can’t same general prescription and settlement. Large (landscape- stands. Prior to settlement, most jump from crown to crown. seeking the same ends: healthier scale), low-intensity surface fires of these forests burned once a Prescribed burns reduce dead forests that are less likely to were first stopped by heavy grazing decade, so they have missed many fuels on the ground and thin the sustain the sort of catastrophic and logging, and later by fire fire cycles since the end of the 19th ever-present oak brush and other wildfires that marked 2002.

Fire’s Footprint SPRUCE-FIR Subalpine forests of Englemann spruce and subalpine fir at higher elevations. The limited fire history data available suggests that wildfires prior to this century only occurred every 300-500 years because Different Forests, of high moisture and mild temperatures in the subalpine. During severe droughts however, fires that start in these forests can result in stand-replacement events, as evidenced by remnants of the Lime Creek Burn of the late 1800s on Molas Pass. Different Fires These stand-replacement fires are nature’s way of regenerating this forest type.

MIXED-CONIFER Upper middle-elevation forests where pines give way to moist ecosystems of Douglas-fir and white fir trees. Fires prior to 1900 may have occurred here on the average of every few decades. Research also suggests that suppression of fire has resulted in an increase of white fir in the understory, increasing the ability of wildfires to spread and intensify.

PONDEROSA PINE Middle-elevation forests typified by an understory of Gambel oak with ecosystems adapted to dry summers. Prior to 1900, these forests burned very frequently (on an average of every 6-30 years). Many towns and cities are in or next to this life zone. Prescribed burning on public lands during spring and fall reintroduces the benefits of fire and reduces the threat of a devastating fire.

PINON-JUNIPER Arid, low-elevation areas where hardy species of trees are interspersed with desert shrubs. Data and experience show that when fire burns here, it is often a “stand-replacement” event, where everything is charred. This kind of fire occurred at Mesa Verde National Park in 2000 and 2002. Today’s piñon-juniper stands have dense canopies of even-aged trees, a situation that allows fires to burn in a destructive, dangerous manner. 4 Fire & Fuels in Southwest Colorado - Summer 2003

Reducing Fuels smaller underbrush. After In addition to reducing the fire thinning, fire managers might go danger, fuel treatments can also back in and conduct a prescribed improve wildife habitat. Creating It’s All in the Prescription burn, to remove the needles and openings in dense stands of trees grasses from the forest floor. allows more sunlight and water to By Gail Binkly and Pam Wilson Hazardous fuels in the reach the grasses, forbs, and Reducing fuels means three or thinning treatments, which can wildland-urban interface will shrubs that deer, elk, and other things: be mechanical or hand. usually be treated either by hand wildlife depend upon for forage. 1) removing “ladder fuels,” These tools may be used thinning or with the hydromower, Fuel treatments also help which are shrubs and small trees separately or together, depending whereas fuels farther from interface reduce competition between trees that will help a fire that starts on areas may be treated with for water and important nutrients the ground run up a tree, prescribed fire or a combination of that will help them fight off insects 2) opening up stands of trees thinning and prescribed fire. and disease. so that the canopy cover is not Wildland fire use or prescribed The goal is to create healthy, continuous, and natural fire, which is when a diverse stands of trees and 3) removing ground fuels like lightning-caused fire start is shrubs, interspersed with pine needles, cones, and dead allowed to burn, is a tool used in openings, that produce both cover branches, so that a fire has less remote areas, such as roadless and food for a variety of species, fuel. areas or Wilderness. as well as to reduce the fire The two key factors in Fuel-treatment efforts are hazard. determining how the work will be on the area involved and the land generally focused on ponderosa, The Forest Service and BLM done are the type of vegetation and manager’s objectives. For example, piñon-juniper, and oakbrush. are hoping to treat about 12,000 the type of fuel reduction needed. in particularly dense stands of Communities such as aspen and acres of hazardous fuels in 2003: Land managers use prescribed fire timber, it would be unsafe to burn spruce-fir don’t burn as readily or 6,000 with mechanical methods without first removing some of the as often as the pine forests. and 6,000 with prescribed fire.

Hydromowing

Most of the mechanical treatment on public The mower is used primarily in piñon- A hydromower, one of the newest tools, is lands in southwest Colorado is being done with juniper stands found on much of the lower- like a giant lawn mower that grinds vegetation a hydromower. One reason is the cost: a elevation BLM lands, Lewis said, but a mower into smaller pieces. It can easily handle hydromower costs about $150-$175/acre, was recently used successfully on some dense material up to 8 inches in diameter and can compared with $300-$350/acre for hand thickets of very small ponderosa pines on the cover an acre an hour, depending on the thinning. A hydromower can also treat more Pagosa Ranger District. density of the vegetation, according to Randy ground than a crew cutting trees and brush Lewis, BLM fuels specialist. It’s ideal for use with chainsaws. with sagebrush, scrub oak, piñon pine, and The hydrowmower does have its limitations: juniper. the machine can’t be used on steep slopes, and The mower spews the ground-up material operators have to be careful how and what they ahead of itself and travels on top of the mulch, mow, Lewis said. “We encourage equipment reducing surface disturbance. “The mulch is operators to run them in a mosaic pattern, such a good cushion that the mower can leaving more natural-appearing clumps and actually be used in archeological areas,” said clearings as well as a diverse mixture of plant Lewis. ”We’ve had some cases where erosion species, ages, and sizes.” is damaging a site and we’ve taken the mower After mowing, the area is usually seeded in there and the mulch slows down the erosive with native grasses. Seed has been provided by forces.” The mulch also benefits the soils by the Colorado Division of Wildlife Habitat retaining water and providing cover for Partnership Program, Rocky Mountain Elk sprouting seeds. Foundation, and the Montezuma-Dolores Habitat Foundation.

Thinning Service, and local loggers. The project, which oakbrush, giving new trees, grasses, and forbs started in 1995, showed that ponderosa forests a chance to sprout. were healthier if thinned and then burned with In smaller treatment areas or near homes, When larger timber needs to be thinned, a low-intensity fires. thinning may also be commercial logging operation is ideal. “We’re taking the accomplished by hand According to Phil Kemp, a forester at the lessons learned in the crews. This past fall, Dolores Public Lands Office, that’s often the ponderosa pine firefighters from the San case with southwest Colorado’s dense stands demonstration project Juan Hotshot Crew and of ponderosa pine, the most volatile fuel among and incorporating those Dolores Public Lands the higher-elevation trees. concepts into our Office cleared shrubs Loggers don’t clearcut, they remove trees regular timber-sale and dead piñon on according to a prescription set by land program,” Kemp said. almost 60 acres managers that is designed to improve the After a thinning surrounding the Anasazi ecosystem by thinning overcrowded stands. operation, prescribed Heritage Center, in an The prescription is based on research and burns may be used to effort to protect the AHC findings from the Ponderosa Pine Project, an reduce material on the and its neighbors from effort involving Montezuma County, the Forest ground and knock back an unwanted fire.

Prescribed Fire officer for the Columbine Public Lands Office. Most prescribed burns on the San Juan Fire managers usually look to the spring and Public Lands are conducted in middle-elevation fall to conduct prescribed burns. ponderosa pine forests, which depend on fire for ecological health. Low-intensity fires, set and carefully Prescribed fire is the most economical fuel- monitored by fire crews, are used to improve removal tool, costing from $50-$75 an acre, forest health and reduce “ladder fuels,” the depending on terrain and complexity of the shrubs and other plants that can carry flames fuels. It is also the most effective tool for treating up into tree canopies and turn a manageable a large number of acres. wildland blaze into a catastrophic crown fire. Due to the lingering drought, fire managers Prescribed burns are a useful tool but can were able to burn only about 3,100 acres in be conducted only when conditions, or the 2002, two-thirds of which were from the Log prescription, are just right. Chutes burn just outside Durango. If conditions “We’ve got a lot of parameters regarding are right, fire managers hope to burn around humidity, wind speed, moisture levels, time 6,000 acres this year. of day,” said Ron Klatt, fire management Fire & Fuels in Southwest Colorado - Summer 2003 5 Fires Started Naturally, Managed for Resource Benefits Wildland fire management, which includes the Wildland Fire Use prevention, control, and use of wildland fire, is a process affecting us all. By Laurie Robisonobisonobison Managing wildland fire on Extra resources, such as hotshot public lands can be a complex crews and Incident Management PrPrPreeevvventionentionention is education and other actions that undertaking. Although not all fires Teams, are often brought in to help reduce unwanted wildland fires. are good, the days are past when monitor these fires. Wildland Fire fire managers automatically Use is just one more tool in the ContrContrContrololol is action taken on unwanted wildland extinguish all wildfires. Today’s fire fire manager’s tool box. Like experts recognize that fire can be prescribed fire and mechanical fires to protect life, and to reduce damage to beneficial and necessary to the treatments, Wildland Fire Use resources and property. forest ecosystem. For this reason, carries out beneficial fuels when a lightning fire starts in a reduction and habitat restoration UseUseUse is the application of wildland fire to meet remote area, fire officials may — but within limitations. decide to monitor rather than “It’s not a tool that can be specific objectives, such as restoring a forest or suppress the fire. This is called used everywhere. We’re not going improving the diversity of the vegetation. Wildland Fire Use. to apply it next to a community,” said Ron Klatt, Fire Management Officer, “It’s not a tool that can be Columbine Public Lands used everywhere. We don’t Office. “We don’t want Taking Flight at the public to feel want the public to feel threat- threatened by it.” Durango’s Airtanker Base ened by it.” Many things need to be considered before Last season was a banner year at Durango’s Airtanker Base. On Ron Klatt,Klatt,Ron deciding to designate a July 9, the base moved into a new facility adjacent to the air- Fire Management Officer fire as Wildland Fire Use. Fire Management Officer port, which has the capability to load five air tankers or more in Columbine Public Lands Office Factors taken into account include time of rotation. The old base could handle only three. And fortunately year, forest type, fuel for people in southwest Colorado, an air tanker was stationed loading, fuel moisture, here for the first time. When local conditions are drought, fire activity, topography, favorable and fire managers believe and weather. Once the decision Over 22 airtankers used the base last summer, and between the fire will burn the way they want has been made to take advantage them they: it to for that particular forest type, of the Fire Use strategy, managers • logged 750 hours of flight time on 71 fires; they’ll monitor the fire and allow it follow a predetermined plan and • flew 737 missions in seven states; to function in its natural ecological continuously observe fire • saved homes in six subdivisions, in addition to those role. Fires of this nature return behavior, weather, and other around Missionary Ridge; and nutrients to the soil, open up elements to encourage a favorable • dropped 1.8 million gallons of retardant. overgrown forests to more sunlight, outcome. and provide new growth for food If the criteria for Wildland The P-3 Orion (Tanker 22) will be back at the base this summer. and habitat. Wildland Fire Use is Fire Use are not met, a fire is It won’t be available before June 1, however, due to an airport especially effective in wilderness designated a wildfire and runway reconstruction project beginning in mid-April. Until the and roadless areas. appropriate suppression action is runway is ready, Tanker 22 will be stationed at Grand Junction. Even before a fire starts, land taken. In 2002, there were no Fire This will be the only airtanker assigned to Colorado this year managers designate areas that Use fires on the San Juan Public and we anticipate its use to be heavy throughout both region- would be appropriate for, and Lands because conditions were too ally and nationally. benefit from, Wildand Fire Use. severe.

Fire and Rain When Lightning Strikes

Pearson, NIFC lightning so we can preposition firefighting coordinator. “As each strike resources.” resonates, the ALDFs record a Staff at the Durango unique signature, or fingerprint, Interagency Fire Dispatch Center that can be detected separately are often responsible for moving from another strike occurring even hundreds of firefighters and a half second later.” support staff, dozens of fire Within minutes, the lightning engines, plus airtankers and data are on the way to fire dispatch helicopters, in dozens of different centers and weather services, directions. By Ann Bond including the Durango Interagency “As soon as we get the lightning Be careful what you wish for if in Monte Vista and Grand Fire Dispatch Center, which map, we put up a plane,” Lauer you’re wishing for rain, because, Junction. watches over an area stretching said. “In the meantime, we begin in the Southwest, you’ll also get Within a second, the lightning east to west from Wolf Creek Pass to preposition our crews and thunderstorms. Along with badly detectors filter out other electrical to the Utah border, and north to engines closer to problem areas.” needed moisture, they bring the signals, like cloud-to-cloud strikes south from Silverton, Colorado, to The maps are kept for future threat of lightning, the cause of 65 and electromagnetic “white noise,” the New Mexico border. Valuable reference, to aid in determining percent of all Western wildfires. and record the time, angle, information on nearby storms in whether a fire is human or A high-tech system of three strength, and number of strokes. other states also comes in from naturally caused. “Some strikes dozen Automatic Lightning The information is transmitted via ALDFs in Gallup, New Mexico; will ignite fuels and sit in the Direction Finders (ALDFs) helps microwave or satellite to the BLM Cedar City, Utah; and Kingman, ground undetected for a week to track lightning strikes across the National Interagency Fire Center Arizona. 10 days before they catch fire,” West. These stations can in Boise, Idaho. There, a computer “The maps are very helpful in Lauer said. “They’ll smolder till immediately detect and plot 85 triangulates incoming signals and tracking storms,” said Mark Lauer, conditions allow them to pop up.” percent of all cloud-to-ground plots individual strikes on maps. San Juan Public Lands Center Fire There were over 300 lightning- lightning strikes. The stations that “Each strike is as different as Management Officer. “We know in caused fires in southwest Colorado watch over southwest Colorado are each snowflake,” said Greg advance what’s headed our way, last year. 6 Fire & Fuels in Southwest Colorado - Summer 2003

See the Map of Proposed Fuels-Reduction Projects for 2003 on the San Juan Public Lands Fire & Fuels in Southwest Colorado - Summer 2003 7 8 Fire & Fuels in Southwest Colorado - Summer 2003 Red Trees Mean Dead Trees Beetles, Beetles, and More Beetles

By Gail Binkly When visitors to southwest Colorado effective in protecting individual trees. But FAQs about the Pine first see the thousands of red-brown, dying it’s not something we could use on a large piñon pines standing along area highways, scale out in the forest because of the cost Engraver Beetle they’re astonished. Locals, however, are and the large number of trees.” (Ips confusus) growing sadly inured to the fact that Kemp said the BLM is proposing to countless trees are succumbing to an epic spray piñon trees at a few sites, such as How do I know if a tree is infested invasion of tiny bark beetles called ips the Anasazi Heritage Center near Dolores with beetles? beetles (ips confusus) or pine engraver and near certain ruins on Canyons of the Most prominent is the fading of needles beetles. Ancients National Monument, west of from green to straw-color, later turning red “I’m not seeing anything that gives and then brown. Pitch tubes (these are me any hope [that the number of ips multiple, small, popcorn-shaped masses of beetles will decline soon],” said Phil pitch scattered on the trunk where the Kemp, forester with the Dolores Public beetles entered the tree) may be visible; Lands Office. “Extended cold and sawdust may be present in bark temperatures would have killed a crevices, branch crotches, and on the number of the beetles, but we didn’t ground around the base of the tree. experience that this year.” Western Pine Beetle Eating Once a tree is infested with beetles Ponderosa Pines can it be saved? Now, foresters are beginning to No. But don’t be too hasty to cut down a worry that another insect could wreak tree if needles have turned on only a branch havoc on southwest Colorado’s or two. ponderosa pines. The Western pine beetle, dendroctonus brevicomis, is killing Cortez “where there are individual trees Once a tree turns brown can it be a growing number of trees. that are in a picnic area, in front of a saved? “We’re definitely starting to see an building, something like that.” No. increase in Western pine beetle-caused A more effective method of forestalling mortality,” said Kemp. “The most obvious a beetle invasion in the ponderosa pine How can I prevent an infestation? place is in the Hermosa area, north of forests is selective thinning of overcrowded With the magnitude of beetle kill in the Four Durango. Another area is on private land stands, Kemp said. “The best preventive Corners area, it may be impossible to near Summit Lake in Montezuma County, we’ve found is to thin the stands before we completely prevent infestation. Important he said. ever have an epidemic,” he said. “It tends trees around homes and other key Western pine beetles are similar to to reduce the risk of these stands being locations can be protected by preventive piñon ips beetles in many ways. Both invaded.” The remaining trees receive more spraying with insecticides labeled for bark species fly to trees and attack them by moisture, nutrients, and sunlight, which beetle prevention. Spraying should be done boring through their bark to the soft strengthens them and helps them fight off in the warmer months, with the first phloem layer beneath. Both live most of insects and disease. Ideally, timber sales treatment in April (before the beetles their lives under the bark, eating, mating, can be used to thin the overcrowded stands emerge), a second in July, and a third and laying eggs that become larvae, pupae, and help pay for forest restoration work, around Labor Day in September. and eventually more beetles. The mature Kemp said. insects emerge back through the bark and But while the beetle invasion in the fly on to other trees. I want to create defensible space ponderosa pines is still in its early stages, Both species are native and are around my home. When is the best the piñon-beetle epidemic is raging out of present in forests all the time, attacking time to cut trees? control, leaving thousands of acres covered trees weakened by age, lightning strikes, Freshly cut green trees can attract bark with dead trees that pose a huge fire or fungal infections. Normally, the beetles beetles, thus the ideal time to cut is in the hazard. are kept in check by woodpeckers and colder months, when the beetles are not flickers; Western pine beetles are even Fire Danger Increases flying. The need to create defensible space eaten by certain other insects. Also, healthy “The downside, in addition to just around your home is more important pines – both ponderosa and piñon – can losing the trees, is that the ignition however than the potential attraction of usually resist the bugs’ potential for wildfire will be significantly insects. Consider spraying key or favorite attacks by “pitching increased,” Mask said. While it might seem trees nearest your home, and continue with them out,” exuding that dead trees are little different than trees your mitigation work. The cutting of dead sticky resin that with just 2 or 3 percent moisture — as trees will not attract beetles. suffocates the burrowing some were at the height of last summer’s beetles. But a prolonged drought — Mask said the dead ones do How should I dispose of cut trees drought can weaken increase the fire danger. and slash? trees of all sizes and “Anytime you have that much dead Beetles can remain inside logs over winter ages, so that they have material, the ignition potential is always and emerge the next spring. If you cut up little pitch and the bugs much higher,” he said. “In the piñon forest the wood for , it’s best to cover the are able to take over. it takes a lot of wind to get a wildfire going, stacks with clear plastic and bury the edges In the face of a but the possibility of something spreading so no beetles can escape. In winter this widespread infestation, from an ignition in that dead material is method can trick beetles into coming out forest officials’ options much greater.” under the solar-warmed plastic, and then are limited. Biological controls such as Federal agencies cannot possibly they freeze at night. birds and predatory bugs can’t begin to cut and remove all the dead piñons on cope with the massive beetle invasion, said public land, but will concentrate on areas Infested wood can also be treated with Roy Mask, an entomologist with the Forest where the potential for catastrophe is insecticides, chipped, buried, or hauled to Service’s Gunnison Service Center. “We greatest, Mask said. “Most of the emphasis a site at least one mile from any piñon trees. have so much forest susceptible to bark is going to be on the wildland-urban beetles right now that … biological controls interface, where subdivisions butt up For more information contact the can’t keep those burgeoning populations against national forest, BLM, or state Colorado State Forest Service at 970- in check,” Mask said. lands,” he said. “A lot of the forest is Preventive spraying with insecticides susceptible to bark-beetle attack and to 247-5250 or check out the Web at: can save individual trees before the beetles stand-replacing wildfire. We have to focus take hold, but is impossible to use forest- our limited resources where we can do the www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect wide. “Private landowners can use sprays,” most good, and one of those places is in said Mask. “That’s one tool that’s very, very the wildland-urban interface.” Fire & Fuels in Southwest Colorado - Summer 2003 9

After the Fire Missionary Ridge Rehabilitation

Immediately following last year’s Missionary Ridge Fire, the Additional BAER Work Forest Service began emergency Planned for 2003 stabilization work to reduce runoff Straw mulch at the • further hillside stabilization to and erosion problems resulting Valley Fire help protect homes in the from the burned area. Of the $4.5 Vallecito area million the Forest received to • continued operation of early- complete a Burned Area warning weather stations Emergency Rehabilitation (BAER) • landslide-assessment Plan and associated work, about monitoring and mapping (in half was spent on immediate conjunction with the Civil Air emergency stabilization efforts — Patrol and La Plata County work designed to prevent Office of Emergency additional damage and minimize New culvert on Management) threats to life and property. Missionary Ridge • erosion control efforts on Those efforts included the Road trails in the burned area building of log erosion barriers on • culvert installation on 4,719 acres and seeding of 23,644 Missionary Ridge and Pine acres. Early snows and cold River Roads temperatures brought a halt to • possible reseeding of up to other efforts, like culvert 18,000 acres of severely replacement on Missionary Ridge burned lands and Pine River Roads. Building sand • reconstruction, if needed, of Long-term rehabilitation erosion barriers in log erosion barriers involves the repair of structural the Weminuche improvements or restoration of lands that are unlikely to recover naturally from wildland fire damage. For example, noxious Long-Term Rehabilitation weeds are opportunistic and come Projects Planned for in readily after a fire. Forest employees will be monitoring and 2003 treating weed areas. Log erosion barriers • begin removal of hazard trees This year additional hazard near Lemon Dam trees will be removed on the east along Missionary Ridge Road • side of Vallecito Reservoir and work to make other roads in along the East Vallecito Road. The the burned area safe for campgrounds will not open this travel • season. Trails may be reopened invasive-plant treatments • this summer after dangers are insect and disease control • assessed and trail corridors water development cleared of obstacles. Trail users restoration (for wildlife and will be alerted by signs at Signs livestock) • trailheads that hiking in the fence repair • burned area will still carry a seed collection and planning significant risk of falling trees, for reforestation • missing trail segments, and the rehabilitation of fire lines possibility of debris flows.

Hotshot Crew Earns Certification

By PPBy am Wilson Last spring, Durango became home to the 20-person San Juan Interagency Hotshot Crew, one of five such crews in Colorado and 92 in the U.S., but the first ever in southwest Colorado. Hotshot crews are professional wildland fire suppression teams specifically trained, organized, and equipped for rapid response to wildfires. Hotshot crews are often referred to as the backbone of the fire resources. They hike into fires on the most steep and rugged terrain and are prepared to spend two days without additional support. As a national resource, the crew may respond to natural the past year, from supply In 2002 the crew disasters, as well as wildland fires. During the off-season, part or ordering, local personnel support worked on the Missionary Ridge all of the crew will assist with the implementation of hazardous and the hiring of personnel to Fire, as well as 12 others in five fuels reduction projects and prescribed fires, both locally and performance reviews received on states. During the fire season, regionally. fires. In addition to firefighting hotshot crews work, eat, and In April 2003 the San Juan Hotshots were officially certified competency, crew members were live together. They are required as a Type I crew. “Being a brand-new crew, they really felt it was also interviewed about their to be available 24 hours a day, important to do their best and to prove themselves during their ability to work together in difficult 7 days per week and must be first year,” said Crew Superintendent Shawna Legarza. And the crew situations — an important factor available within two hours of a succeeded. Their certification comes within a year of the crew’s in their line of work. “We had call. The San Juan Hotshots live formation. The crew is considered experienced and flexible enough great performance reviews on and train at the Engineer Guard to handle assignments in initial attack, structure protection, and fires, which reflected how well the Station north of Durango, and large burnouts. crew was able to pull together are proud to be the highest- To decide whether to certify the crew, a seven-person during the intense fire season,” elevation hotshot crew in the Operations review panel looked at the crew’s accomplishments over said Legarza. Nation. 10 Fire & Fuels in Southwest Colorado - Summer 2003

Making Your Home and Property Fire Safe WhatWhat AreAre YYouou WWou Waitingaiting FFaiting For?or?or?or?

If you’ve read all this before firewood away from the house, 3. Roof and you’ve created defensible remove dead leaves, cut brush o Remove branches within 10 feet of your chimney space around your home — bravo! and small trees, leave large trees o Remove dead branches overhanging your roof You’ve done a great thing for widely spaced, with 15 feet o Remove dead leaves and needles from your roof and gutters yourself, your family, and your between tree crowns. Work on o Install a fire-resistant roof. Contact your local fire department community. If you’ve read all this your defensible space bit by bit for current roofing requirements. before and you haven’t done and, before you know it, you’ll o Cover your chimney outlet or stovepipe with a nonflammable anything — what are you waiting have that survivable space screen of ½ inch or smaller mesh for? A wildfire? It’ll be too late around your home. then. When you thin trees on your If it seems overwhelming, property, competition is less 4. Landscape just start small and do what you fierce, so sunlight, nutrients, and o Create a “defensible space” by removing all flammable can, when you can. Start at your water will be more plentiful for vegetation at least 30 feet from all structures house and work your way out. the trees that remain. Your little o Never prune near power lines. Call your local utility company Simply raking the pine needles neck of the woods will be first and leaves away from your house healthier and happier. And there o Landscape with fire-resistant plants will help. Then, trim tree branches could be an added bonus: you o On slopes or in high-fire-hazard areas, remove flammable up ten feet from the ground, clean might sleep better at night during vegetation out to 100 feet or more out your gutters, move your fire season. o Space native trees and shrubs at least 10 feet apart o For trees taller than 19 feet, remove lower branches within six feet of the ground o Maintain all plants by regularly watering, and by removing dead branches, leaves, and needles o Before planting trees close to any power line, contact your local utility company to confirm the maximum tree height allowable for that location

5. Yard o Stack woodpiles at least 30 feet from all structures and remove vegetation within 10 feet of woodpiles o Locate propane tanks at least 30 feet from any structure and maintain 10 feet of clearance o Remove all stacks of construction materials, pine needles, leaves, and other debris from your yard o Contact your local fire department to see if open burning is allowed in your area; if so, obtain a permit if necessary

6. Emergency Water Supply ! Maintain an emergency water supply that meets fire department standards through a community water/hydrant 1. Design/Construction system; a cooperative emergency storage tank with neighbors; or a minimum storage supply of 2,500 gallons on o Consider installing residential sprinklers your property o If building a new home, build away from ridge tops, canyons, ! Clearly mark all emergency water sources and areas between high points on a ridge ! Create easy firefighter access to your closest emergency water o Build your home at least 30-100 feet from your property source line ! If your water comes from a well, consider an emergency o Use fire-resistant materials generator to operate the pump during a power failure o Enclose the underside of eaves, balconies, and above-ground decks with fire-resistant materials o Try to limit the size and number of windows in your home that face large areas of vegetation o Install only double- or triple-paned windows Defensible Space o Make sure that electric service lines, fuse boxes, and circuit breaker panels are installed and maintained as prescribed 10 Reasons People Don’t Do It by code 1. I didn’t know I should. o Use qualified professionals to perform electrical maintenance 2. It (wildfire) won’t happen to me. and repairs 3. It’s not my responsiblity — I pay taxes. 4. I don’t have the time or money. 2. Access 5. If I lose my house, my insurance wil cover it. o Identify at least two exit routes 6. It won’t look good. o Construct roads that allow two-way traffic 7. If it were important, my insurance company would o Design driveways and roads to allow access for large give me a break on my premium. emergency vehicles 8. It’s wrong to cut trees. o Design bridges to carry heavy emergency vehicles, including 9. I don’t have an easy way to get rid of the stuff. bulldozers on large trucks o Post clear road signs to show traffic restrictions such as dead- 10. It’s not my house. end roads, and weight and height limitations o Make sure dead-end roads and long driveways have turn- 5 Reasons They Should around areas wide enough for emergency vehicles 1. Firefighter safety. o Construct turnouts along one-way roads o Clear flammable vegetation at least 10 feet from roads and 2. Fire hazard reduction can increase your property five feet from driveways value. o Cut back overhanging tree branches above roads 3. Your neighbors will appreciate it — your work will o Construct fire barriers such as greenbelts or fuelbreaks protect them too. o Make sure that your street is named or numbered, and a 4. Insurance companies may challenge a claim or sign is visibly posted at each street intersection cancel coverage. o Make sure that your street name and house number are not 5. Living with fewer trees is better than living with duplicated elsewhere in the county no trees. o Make sure your house address is easily visible from the road Fire & Fuels in Southwest Colorado - Summer 2003 11 A New Take on an Old Issue Fire Restrictions on San Juan Public Lands

By PPBy am Wilson Land managers have long been west Colorado, is trying something conditions warrant, restrictions will Pagosa, Bayfield, and Dolores, as frustrated by the difficulty of ap- new in an effort to better accom- later be instituted in the high zone. well as at local Visitor Centers and plying fire restrictions on lands that modate those using public lands. “We hope this will better on the Web. range from 6,000-14,000 feet in el- Lands managed by the three accomodate public lands users by Since this way of managing re- evation. Often, when fire danger be- public lands offices has been di- letting them do the activities they strictions is new, we’d like your gins to increase and the need for vided into two zones, low and high. enjoy, be it having a , cut- feedback. If we have to go to fire some level of restrictions arises, you The zones are defined by existing ting firewood, or riding their dirt restrictions this summer, please let can still find snow at the higher el- landmarks — roads, trails, or other bike,” said Mike Znerold, acting us know what does and doesn’t evations. on-the-ground discernible fea- Forest Supervisor/Center Man- work for you about the new restric- This year the San Juan Public tures. When it becomes necessary ager. tions. Call the Public Lands Cen- Lands Center, which manages For- to institute restrictions, first they Maps of the zones will be avail- ter at 970-247-4874. est Service and BLM lands in south- will be applied in the low zone. If able at our offices in Durango,

StaStaStaggges ofofes Firirire RRe estrictions Educational Videos Available Stages indicate the severity of wildfire danger and corresponding re- strictions that are put in place to address the situation. The need for restrictions may be triggered by weather, occurrence of both natural After The Fire and human-caused fires, fire behavior, and/or safety. This video alerts residents to the dan- gers still facing them in the aftermath of For the San Juan Public Lands, managers will look at 10 different fac- the Missionary Ridge and Valley Fires last tors. When four or more of the factors or conditions exist, we will con- summer. Viewers will learn ways to pro- sider going to Stage 1 restrictions; if six or more exist we will consider tect their home from flooding and fire, what to do about driving in flood-prone Stage 2 restrictions; and if seven or more exist, Stage 3 restrictions will areas, and other safety messages. The be considered. video highlights safety measures taken by the county and the Forest Service, Stage 1: Restrictions limit campfires to designated campgrounds and and measures local residents can take. allow smoking only in cleared areas.

Stage 2: Restrictions usually prohibit all open fires and limit smoking to vehicles and enclosed buildings.

Stage 3: Restrictions prohibit entering part or all of certain public lands. Protecting Your Home From Wildfire Learn how to make your property safer from Each of these stages may also include restrictions on chainsaw use, the threat of wildfire by creating defensible vehicle use, or other items that could cause fire danger. space around your home, and where you can get information and assistance. Restriction orders are tailored to meet a specific fire threat in an area at a particular time, so you may encounter different restrictions in differ- ent units. A quick call to a public lands office may prevent disappoint- ment or a change in plans. Stop by the San Juan Public Lands Center in Durango for your free copies. “P“P“People AAeople wwware Are PPare eople Who Care”

Fire-Safe Recreation

Camping/Campfiririreseses VVVehicehicehicle UseUsele ! Make sure it’s legal to have a campfire ! Don’t park your vehicle over dry grasses. before you make one. ! Make sure all off-road vehicles have working ! Use established fire rings. Keep burning spark arrestors. material inside the fire ring and all other OtherOtherOther flammable materials at least 30 feet away. ! Teach children not to play with matches or ! Have water and a shovel on hand to lighters, and other rules of fire safety. extinguish a campfire. ! Remember, fireworks are illegal on federal lands. ! Always extinguish cigarettes in an ashtray or other appropriate container. ! NEVERNEVERNEVER leave a campfire, barbeque, or portable stove unattended. ! Use caution when operating all portable cooking or lighting devices. ! Thoroughly extinguish all smoking and “Dr“Dr“Drown, StirStirown, , and FF, eel”eel”eel” campfire materials before leaving. to fully extinguish all campfires 12 Fire & Fuels in Southwest Colorado - Summer 2003 Federal and State Forest Service Agencies Work Together Colorado Legislation Promotes Good Neighbors

By Gail Binkly Colorado has become the first state in the USFS pays the CSFS for its work on federal “Now we’re doing work around the boundary nation to implement a program that may help land and private landowners pay for the work to complement the work they’ve done,” said streamline the process of doing fuels-reduction done on their land. Klatt. work on National Forest System land adjoining “This allows the state to act as an agent Fuels-reduction work under another Good private land. for the USFS where you have a boundary Neighbor Agreement was planned on about 60 Federal legislation passed in 2001 allowed [between federal and private land],” Ochocki acres at Falls Creek Ranch north of Durango, the creation of “Good Neighbor Agreements” said. but was put off when the Valley Fire burned that involve the Colorado State Forest Service The fuels-reduction efforts include any through part of that area. Klatt hopes that work in fuels-reduction efforts on small tracts of work necessary, whether harvesting timber, will be finished this summer. federal land. Two such projects are planned in clearing brush, or conducting prescribed burns. No such projects have been planned yet La Plata County, according to Dan Ochocki, Ron Klatt, fire management officer for the for Montezuma County, partly because there Durango District forester with the Colorado Columbine Public Lands Office, said the Good are fewer places where private land adjoins NFS State Forest Service. Neighbor Agreements should save money and land; the private-federal interfaces usually “This is unique to Colorado,” he said. “It’s offer greater efficiency in getting necessary work involve the BLM. There are also currently no pretty cool. It’s a real step forward in terms of done. projects planned in Archuleta County. interagency cooperation.” Under a Good Neighbor Agreement, the “I wish we had the same kind of agreement The legislation provides a framework for CSFS lays out the project, marks the trees to for BLM lands, but we don’t,” Klatt said. the U.S. Forest Service — not the Bureau of be thinned, writes the contract, solicits bidders, Ochocki said the fact that Good Neighbor Land Management or any other federal agency and awards and administers the contract. Agreements can be implemented here indicates — to enter into an agreement with CSFS These are small-scale projects. The first the high level of local interagency cooperation. regarding efforts to make property fire-safe. such project to be implemented locally involved “What precedes all this is an Under the Good Neighbor Agreement, if 118 acres at the Deer Valley Estates acknowledged level of trust and respect and a the CSFS is reducing hazardous fuels on subdivision, according to Ochocki. history of interagency cooperation where we private lands, it can do similar work on The subdivision, which is surrounded by know what to expect from each other,” Ochocki adjoining NFS lands at the same time. The NFS land, had done extensive thinning work. said.

Untreated Forest Service land Treated Forest Service land Treated private land

summer 2003 Want to Know More? FIRE &Fuels Web Sites Offer Help

wwwwwwwww.south.south.southwestcolorwestcolorwestcoloradofires.org Local information on on-going fires, mitigation contractors, in southwest colorado Community Fire Plans and more

Fire & Fuels in Southwest Coloradoado,adoado summer 2003, is made possible through a partnership of the San wwwwwwwww.fireplan.govvv Juan Public Lands Center, Colorado State Forest Service, and Office of Community Services at Fort Lewis National Fire Plan College. Editor: Editor: Pam Wilson wwwwwwwww.firewise.org LaLaLayyyout and Design: Pam Wilson National FireWise site -- defen- CopCopCopy Editor: Gail Binkly, Tom Harris sible space tips WWWriters: Pam Wilson, Laurie Robison, Ann Bond, Gail Binkly, Dan Ochocki PhotogrPhotogrPhotographaphaphy:y:y: Bob Winslow, Chris Figenshaw, Pam Wilson, Craig Goodell, Sheri Ascherfeld, Allen wwwwwwwww.nifc.go.nifc.go.nifc.govvv Farnsworth National Interagency Fire Center

The Public Lands Center and Public Lands Offices are jointly managed offices of the San Juan National Forest and BLM - San Juan Resource Area under the Service First Initiative. The offices offer joint permits for fuelwood and Christmas wwwwwwwww.fs.fed.us/r2/sanjuan trees, maps for lands managed by each agency, and informational brochures. Stop by any of our offices to learn San Juan National Forest more. wwwwwwwww.fs.fed.us.fs.fed.us.fs.fed.us San Juan Public Lands Center Columbine Public Lands Office U.S. Forest Service National Site 15 Burnett Court 367 S. Pearl St Durango, CO 81301 Bayfield, CO 81122 970-247-4874 970-884-2512 wwwwwwwww.co.co.co.blm.go.blm.go.blm.gov/sjrv/sjrv/sjra/index.html San Juan Resource Area - BLM Dolores Public Lands Office PPPagosa Public Lands Office 100 N. 6th St. 180 Pagosa St. wwwwwwwww.blm.go.blm.go.blm.govvv Dolores, CO 81323 Pagosa Springs, CO 81147 BLM National Site 970-882-7296 970-264-2268 wwwwwwwww.sanjuanmountainsassociation.org ColorColorColorado State Forestorestorest Office of Communityyy San Juan Mountains San Juan Mountains Association ServiceServiceService ServicesServicesServices Association P.O. Box 7233 1000 Rim Drive 15 Burnett Court ocs.fortlewis.edu/Stewardship/ardship/ardship/ Durango, CO 81301 Durango, CO 81301 P.O. Box 2261 970-247-5250 970-247-7333 Durango, CO 81302 index.htm 970-385-1210 Community and Ecosystem Stew- ardship USDA prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) wwwwwwwww.wildfirenews.org should call (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil rights, Room Wildfire News 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity employer.