Lawmakers sound alarm on preparing for long, dangerous fire season
By Alan Gathright, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published April 16, 2008 at 12:52 p.m.
Updated April 16, 2008 at 12:52 p.m.
The deadly early-season wildfire sweeping across Crowley County has lawmakers repeating warnings about the state's need to be ready for what could be a long, dangerous summer.
Rep. Rob Witwer, R-Genesee, and Sen. Mike Kopp, R-Littleton, are pushing for a special interim summer committee to strengthen Colorado's ability to prevent and combat wildfires.
A key concern is anecdotal reports about an exodus of volunteer firefighters - who comprised 62 percent of the state's firefighting force. Witwer said the summer committee would quantify the loss of volunteers who sometimes can't handle the cost of safety gear and other pressures of being a part-time first-responder.
"In most parts of the state if you dial 911, the first responder will be a volunteer," Witwer said, referring to suburban and rural volunteer departments outside urban areas.
"Every summer we face the possibility of catastrophic wildfire. And the fact that it's starting so early this year highlights the need for the state to do everything it can to support our volunteer firefighters," he said.
Witwer and Kopp teamed on a package of bills this session to counter the fire threat, including a failed effort to give volunteer firefighters a $250 tax credit to defray their emergency equipment expenses. It died in the House Finance Committee.
Another Witwer bill to give a $2,500 tax deduction to homeowners who clear tinder-dry brush and debris around their home is stalled in the Senate Appropriations Committee after a 5-to-5 vote.
But the lawmakers succeeded with a bill to allow volunteer agencies to shop for better health benefit deals in large insurance pools.
Now, the lawmakers hope to convince legislative leaders and both chambers to approve the interim committee.
The goal is to strengthen the state's ability to combat wildfires as Colorado's urban growth expands into fire-prone forest areas. The committee would explore wildfire prevention strategies across the state, including holding hearings to learn the insights of Coloradans living in harms way.
"This is an issue we care deeply about, and we intend to give these communities all the tools we can to fight these devastating fires," said Kopp. A former "hot shot" forest firefighter and son of a firefighter, Kopp said he wants to use his experience to protect foothills constituents
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JustSayin writes:
Which hotshot team? What years? Where posted? I think we've all see too many claims of glory by politicos and wannabes recently to just take this statement at face value. RMN - facts please?