Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control Colorado Counties Inc. June 5, 2018
Brief History and Background Vaughn Jones Mike Morgan The Division Background Wildfire in Colorado is a Public Safety Problem impacting, lives, homes, water sheds, tourism, economy, quality of life……
Colorado Department of Public Safety Engaged employees working together to provide diverse public safety services to local communities and safeguard lives Creating safer and more resilient communities
Colorado State Patrol Colorado Bureau of Investigation Division of Criminal Justice Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division of Fire Prevention and Control
An Overview of the DFPC “Our mission is to serve and safeguard the people and protect the property, resources, environment, and quality of life in Colorado”
DFPC Fire and Life Safety Section: Administers the fire, building, and life safety codes adopted by • DFPC Reviews construction documents, issues permits, inspects • construction, and regular maintenance inspections of regulated facilities Includes public schools and junior colleges, health care facilities, • limited gaming, waste tire, and hotel/motel facilities Administers the Fireworks Regulatory Program •
DFPC Professional Qualifications and Training Section: • Manages and coordinates training and certifications for Firefighter, Hazardous Materials Responder, Driver Operator, Fire Officer, Youth Firesetter Prevention, Fire and Life Safety Educator, and Fire Instructor programs
Center of Excellence for Advanced Technology Aerial Firefighting Mission To protect the citizens, land, and resources in Colorado, the Center of Excellence will research, test, and evaluate existing and new technologies that support sustainable, effective, and efficient aerial firefighting capabilities. Vision The Center of Excellence is the worldwide leader in collaboratively researching and developing innovative technologies and capabilities supporting or related to aerial firefighting.
DFPC - WFMS Wildland Fire Management Section (WFMS): • 84 total employees (31 PFT , 38 PPT , and 15 Temp Aides) • 18 locations • Operations Branch • Planning Branch • Logistics Branch (CDPS EDO)
DFPC – WFMS (12) Fire Management Officers:
So how does it work ? Incident occurs C.R.S.29-22.5- 103(1)(a) “The chief of the fire department in each fire protection district in the state is responsible for the management of wildland fires that occur within the boundaries of his or her district and that are within the capability of the fire district to control or extinguish in accordance with the provisions of section 32-1- 1002(3)(a), C.R.S.” The majority of fires are controlled and paid for at this level
What about when it exceeds capability ? Mutual Aid and Next Steps Vary by Jurisdiction C.R.S. 30-10- 513 (1)(a) “it is the duty of the sheriff to assume the responsibility for coordinating fire suppression efforts in case of any prairie, forest, or wildland fire or wildfire occurring in the unincorporated area of the county outside the boundaries of a fire protection district or that exceed the capabilities of the fire protection district to control or extinguish” WERF and CFAC assistance are available to the Fire Chief, or the Sheriff
What about when it exceeds capability ? Who Funds the Sheriff’s Office? County Commissioners State “assistance” WERF CFAC MMA Resource Mobilization Catch it small, and put it out!
Wildfire in Colorado C.R.S. 30-10- 513(1)(d) “When a wildfire exceeds the • capability of the county to control or extinguish, the sheriff shall be responsible for seeking the assistance of the state by requesting assistance from the division of fire prevention and control in the department of public safety.” C.R.S. 30-10- 513(2) “The director of the division of • fire prevention and control may assume any duty or responsibility given to the sheriff under this section with concurrence of the sheriff.”
State Assistance Wildfire Emergency Response Fund (WERF) WERF was created to assist local jurisdictions with initial attack • wildland fire response on state and private lands within the State of Colorado (C.R.S. §24-33.5-1226). Reimbursement program where local agencies request • reimbursement from DFPC for resources used Eligible resources per incident include: • • 2 days of a 20-person handcrew, with a preference for use of Colorado Department of Correction crews; and 1 aviation resource (1 aerial tanker drop or 1 hour of • helicopter flight time) Historical program that began in 2003 for aviation with handcrews • added in 2006
State Assistance Colorado Firefighting Air Corps (CFAC) CFAC was authorized to ensure the availability of aviation • resources for wildand fire response on state and private lands within the State of Colorado (C.R.S. §24-33.5-1228). Includes base funding for DFPC aviation program expenses • (aircraft, personnel, and operating) Covers costs for use of aviation resources for wildfires on non- • federal lands Based on closest forces concept and covers costs of DFPC or • federal aircraft used on non-federal lands
CFAC and WERF Assistance Funding and reimbursement for wildland firefighting resources under these programs are available to any Colorado County Sheriff, fire protection district, or municipal fire department in accordance with the following eligibility guidelines. Funding and reimbursement will occur to the extent that program funds are available. Summary of Eligible Resources 2 nd Operational Period Initial Attack Period Resource (Not to Exceed 24 Hours) 20 Person Handcrew (2 days total per Yes Yes incident) DFPC Engines (2 days total per incident) Yes Yes DFPC Overhead (2 days total per incident) Yes Yes DFPC Multi-Mission Aircraft Yes Yes Type 1 Helicopter (1 hour per incident); or Large Airtanker (1 drop per incident); or Yes No Very Large Airtanker (1 drop per incident) Type 2 Helicopter Yes Negotiable Type 3 Helicopter Yes Negotiable Single Engine Air Tanker Yes Negotiable Aerial Supervision Aircraft (if required) Yes Negotiable
Do You Know the Name of this Fire?
Emergency Fire Fund (EFF) Created in 1967 by a group of “concerned” Counties • Assessment based upon A/V and ability to grow forest / timber • products Original Assessments were $320,610.00 • Today 49 Counties generating approximately $1 million dollars • Governed by a board comprised of three Commissioners, three • Sheriff’s, two Fire Chief’s, and the Director of the Division of Fire Prevention and Control County money, not State, not Federal • The Director is authorized to approve EFF •
State Responsibility Emergency Fire Fund (EFF) A complexity analysis is completed • The fire’s complexity is rated on a series of factors including (but not • limited to): fire behavior, values at risk, local capability, anticipated fire behavior If the fire meets a minimum threshold, a request is made by the • Sheriff for the Director of the DFPC to assume responsibility DFPC assumes responsibility and serves as the Agency Administrator • for the state on fire matters. This does NOT mean the Fire Chief, the Sheriff, the County Commissioners are not still at the table or that the State has “taken over”
State Responsibility with EFF Depleted EFF generates 1 million dollars…….. • The same complexity analysis is completed • A funding source must be identified / approved prior to the state • assuming responsibility Governor Disaster Declaration • Disaster Emergency Funds (DEF) Executive Order • Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) threatened structure • thresholds and minimum state contributions FMAG reimburses 75% of State eligible costs •
COMPLICATING!!!!!!!!! Your DFPC FMO will assist whenever requested regardless of fire • complexity or land ownership One of DFPC’s many charges is to provide technical support • Annual Operating Plans (AOP’s) • Multiple AHJ’s and land ownership • Multiple policies and competing interests i.e. Sage Grouse • habitat, resource benefit, etc Multiple partners in cost share agreements • Cost share agreements •
Wildfire in Colorado DFPC EFF FEMA Years EFF Incidents FEMA Incidents Average/Year Average/Year 1967-1969 0 0 0 0 1970-1979 1 .1 1 .1 1980-1989 8 .8 1 .1 1990-1999 15 1.5 4 .4 2000-2009 65 6.5 32 3.2 2010-2017 56 7.0 17 2.1 Total 145 55
Painful realities of EFF history Annual Estimated Calendar County EFF # of EFF Fire Cost Fire Cost to Total State FEMA - FMAG Net State Years Assessments Fires to EFF Exec Order Fire cost Reimbursement Fire Costs 2010 $ 1,000,121 3 1,587,983 6,290,296 7,878,279 5,979,567 1,898,712 2011 $ 999,997 11 611,831 6,563,097 7,174,928 3,214,060 3,960,868 2012 $ 1,000,004 16 1,549,196 14,326,420 15,875,616 TBD TBD 2013 $ 1,000,001 9 1,163,004 11,812,068 12,975,072 TBD TBD 2014 $ 1,000,001 1 244,000 0 244,000 0 244,000 2015 $ 1,000,000 0 0 0 0 0 0 2016 $ 1,029,011 6 2,750,000 12,275,000 15,025,000 TBD TBD 2017 $ 1,030,710 10 1,030,710 5,397,290 6,428,000 0 6,428,000 2018 2019 TOTAL $8,059,845 56 $ 8,936,724 $ 56,664,171 $65,600,895 $9,193,627 $12,531,580
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