RCVFD CWPP

RCVFD has submitted our CWPP for approval.  A pdf version of the CWPP can be seen here (note, the file is somewhat large, so be patient).  Suggestions are welcome!  Send feedback to Chief Gann.

Here is the introduction - for the full document download the PDF

Rist Canyon Volunteer Fire Department

Larimer County, Colorado

RCVFD

Community Wildfire Protection Plan

8/9/09 – V 1.0

10/2/09 – V1.1 – Added maps

1/1/2010- Final Submission

Introduction

This Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) was developed by Rist Canyon Volunteer Fire Department (RCVFD) to address communities within and bordering the RCVFD response area.

The purpose of the CWPP is to formalize and coordinate efforts ongoing and proposed to help the community prepare for wildland fires and mitigate the effects.  Included is information related to:

• Mitigation efforts and what can be done to address fire issues generally and in particular instances.
• Public education and efforts to involve community members in a preparing for wildland fires
• Response planning both for the RCVFD as well as the members of the community,
• Plan for future activities and hazards, such as the effect of infestations like the pine beetle, growth, urban intrusion.
• Documentation of specific hazard areas and critical infrastructure and planning related to these items.

It is of interest to note that RCVFD has a long and rich history of activities included in this CWPP – many of the items discussed here are items that were undertaken by RCVFD and community members many years ago – but that have not been formalized in a plan such as this one – in many ways RCVFD is ‘ahead of the game’ with respect to activities in a CWPP. Perhaps the most obvious example of this was the creation of RCVFD by a group of concerned residents in 1975.  These leaders not only saw the need for a wildland fire focused fire department, but organized and personally funded the establishment of RCVFD.

That said, the goal of the RCVFD CWPP is to unify and coordinate these efforts in a way that will allow RCVFD and community members to more effectively plan and execute needed efforts as well as evaluate the effectiveness of current programs.

Review Process

It should be noted that a CWPP is not a static plan – it should be disseminated, criticized, updated and added to.  If static, it has failed.  To that end, RCVFD operations and BOD will review and revise the CWPP annually.  In addition – and annual planning process will be instituted to plan for projects related to the CWPP each year.

RCVFD and Community Profile

Upon initial inspection, one may ask, “Why a RCVFD CWPP and not one more focused on specific communities?”  RCVFD serves a number of areas, ranging from relatively accessible properties along Rist Canyon Road, to much more remote “communities” such as the upper Buckhorn Canyon.  Would it not make sense to develop CWPP’s for each local?

The simple answer is no.

RCVFD serves a number of somewhat distinct areas; however, there are several key factors that unify these communities in a way that makes an overall RCVFD CWPP relevant and effective.  They include:

• The area covered by RCVFD represents, essentially, a number of ‘bedroom’ and ‘retirement’ communities.  The vast majority of residents commute and work in nearby town.  While there are various “Road” and Home Owner” associations, the only unifying organization is the RCVFD.
• One purpose of a CWPP is to coordinate efforts for fire mitigation and planning.  By using the RCVFD as an umbrella – duplicative efforts can be coordinated.  Furthermore, efforts that are in conflict may be addressed.
• A second purpose of a CWPP is to act as a plan that allows an organization to pursue funding and grants related to wildland fire activities – and to fit in with ongoing activities in neighboring areas.  Creating individual CWPP’s for each would tend to fragment these efforts – and in many cases there is no real “organization” that could act as a receiving entity.  RCVFD is already structured and established with formal BOD level representation for each major geographic/residential area and can be that organization.
• While spread over a number of square miles, the topography, population density, fuel models and wildland issues for the entire RCVFD area are relatively consistent.  Therefore a unified plan with specific sections to address specific area issues makes allows more leverage and effectiveness.
• RCVFD already has in place many of the aspects of a good CWPP – so efforts to recreate those aspects in sub communities is neither productive or likely.

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For the rest of the CWPP, see the pdf file linked above.