FACO Website Launched, Annual Retreat Complete!
In January, Fire Adapted Colorado launched the network's new website, combining both the FACO and CWFC websites into a single resource. The project is the result of last year's strategic and communications plans. Staff and board members also met in Grand Junction in early February for two days of strategic planning, and to solidify the mission, vision and values of our Colorado Network for Wildfire Resilience!
Visit the same url: http://www.fireadaptedco.org, to experience a new look, with updated content on the site, including a new network directory and place-based organizational map, links to FACO resources, and information on upcoming events, including the Colorado Wildland Fire Conference.
National & State Partners, and Place-Based FACO network participants should locate your directory listings, double check your listing, and let us know what modifications you'd like to make!
You can submit changes using the 2023 FACO Directory Listing Submissions Form or email cindy@fireadaptedco.org.
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IN THIS NEWSLETTER
- Member's Corner: Awards, new members & Orientation
- Legislation: webinar Monday and legislation tracker
- Events: Fire Lab seminar, EM Inclusion workshops, ASIP & much more!
- Resources: Rx tradeoffs, Health of CO forests, 2022 incident review, wildfire wx
- Funding: Wood Innovations, Mitigation Incentives for Local Govs, CWDG update
- Jobs: Grand County, Roaring Fork, Jefferson County, West Region
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Exemplary Commitment to Community Wildfire Risk Reduction
Eagle County, Colorado
The IAFC Wildfire Mitigation Awards committee has named one individual and one organization to receive it's 2023 Wildfire Mitigation Awards.
This year's recipients happen to both be from Eagle County, Colorado, where their coordinated efforts have earned them "the highest commendation for innovation and leadership in wildfire mitigation."
Eagle Valley Wildland (EVW) is an intergovernmental collaborative between Eagle County, Eagle River FPD, Greater Eagle FPD, and Gypsum FPD. It represents an ambitious partnership between the agencies to coordinate and collaborate on wildfire mitigation efforts. As a result of this partnership, EVW tripled the number of acres of fuel reduction treatments in the county.
As a Fire Mitigation Specialist for Eagle County, Eric Lovgren has expanded enforcement role to an Emergency Management role. Lovgren helped design and launch REALFire, a voluntary home assessment program led by realtors and the Community Wildfire Planning Center. Eric, is also a FACO board member, and past chair.
The Wildfire Mitigation Awards program was established in 2014 by the National Association of State Foresters (NASF), the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and the USDA Forest Service to help demonstrate the tremendous societal value wildfire mitigation efforts provide.
Congratulations on receiving these prestigious national awards, and for being Wildfire Resilience Leaders in your communities!
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Partner of the Year
Ashley Downing, Executive Director of Wildfire Adapted Partnership, and board secretary for Fire Adapted Colorado, was recently recognized by the Colorado State Forest Service, as a "CSFS Partner of the Year", for 2022.
As reported in their winter newsletter, Ashley was honored for "Stepping up her already outstanding commitment to collaborative forestry work across three counties and in partnership with the Colorado State Forest Service and support in growing initiatives and grant programs including the Southwest Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program and the Colorado Strategic Wildfire Action Program."
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Network Updates
FACO network participation is growing!
Welcome to Josh Hankes, Executive Director of the formerly all-volunteer, Routt County Wildfire Mitigation Council.
Recent additions to the FACO network, also include Arielle Hodgson, Emergency and Risk Manager for the City of Lone Tree, Broomfield OEM's Lenzi McGee and David Halen, and Chaffee County Emergency Manager Richard Atkins.
FACO encourages everyone to take a look at the Fire Adapted Colorado website and see how to stay connected. Making a difference in your communities, improving wildfire resilience and creating positive outcomes requires all-hands, all-lands working together across boundaries.
Network Orientation
Fire Adapted Colorado will be holding 2 virtual sessions for network participants. If you are new to the network, new to your position, or just need a refresher about how to get the most out of the network, plan on attending either session. March15 / March 22 (attend one) | VIRTUAL 1-3 pm | FACO NEW Network Member Orientation | Register to attend
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 2023 Legislative Updates Webinar
Join Fire Adapted Colorado on March 13th, from 10-11am if you're curious about state and federal wildfire bills that are currently in the legislative process. REGISTER NOW for this one-hour overview call on proposed bills, their intent, where they are in the process, and how to find out more. Our March 2022 update reached 150 participants from local government, emergency management, wildfire mitigation, and other professions.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing details to join the meeting.
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2023 Legislative Session Items
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The Protect the West Act
Three members of Colorado’s congressional delegation seek $60 billion to reduce wildfire risk, restore Western land. The Protect the West Act is sponsored by U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, as well as U.S. Rep. Jason Crow | $60 billion sought to reduce wildfire risk, restore Western land (coloradosun.com) | SOURCE: Shannon Mullane, The Colorado Sun | Mar 4, 2023.
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Registration - March 21 - $375 | Late Registration After March 21 - $425
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Risk-Risk Tradeoffs and Prescribed Burning Decisions in Colorado
Researchers with the Department of Environmental & Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health | CU Anschutz, are studying the risk tradeoffs of prescribed burning decisions in Colorado. The research team is looking for CO Rx burn implementation partners, for the three-year study period. They are targeting regions where one of the three Rx burn measurement teams could visit within reasonable notice of a burn.
The project is supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation's Decision, Risk, and Management Sciences and Humans, Disasters, and the Built Environment programs.
For more information, and to contact the research team, visit https://www.rxburn-risktradeoffs.com/
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2022 Report on the Health of Colorado's Forests
Each year, forest health reports provide information to the Colorado General Assembly and the general public about the health and condition of forests across Colorado, as well as the progress the Colorado State Forest Service is making in addressing critical forest health issues in our state. Learn more about the insects and diseases affecting forest health, resources for living with wildfire, and ongoing watershed protection efforts, in the 2022 report.
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2022 Incident Review Summary
The 2022 Incident Review Summary report is published by Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center (LLC). The primary source of this data is incident reports (Rapid Lesson Sharing, Facilitated Learning Analysis, Serious Accident Investigations, etc.) Report data covers collected information on 133 operational incidents.
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Extreme Wildfires Make Their Own Weather
Extreme fires in the western United States and Southeast Asia influenced the local weather in ways that make fires and smoke pollution worse. | Extreme Wildfires Make Their Own Weather - Eos | SOURCE: Eos by Elise Cutts | Mar 8, 2023.
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- Opportunity Fund Applications due March 17th. FACO Member invited.
- US Department of Agriculture Wood Innovations Program grant and Community Wood Grant Programs | Deadline to apply is Thursday, March 23rd by 5 PM local time | Learn more
- Colorado State Forest Service | Wildfire Mitigation Incentives for Local Government Grant Program | $9.5 million available for grant awards | Application period for funds is open March 1 – April 5, 2023
- CWDG Update - USFS Cooperative Fire Specialist, Tim Melchert, provided an update that announcement will be made in the next few weeks.
 The USFS will share details about the approved projects on the CWDG website once the announcements are made, including feedback for applicants.
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