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 FirefightingMission

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 ?

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

Incident occurs

What about when it exceeds capability ?

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

Mutual Aid and Next Steps Vary by Jurisdiction

What about when it exceeds capability ?

County Commissioners

State “assistance”

WERF

CFAC

MMA

Resource Mobilization

Catch it small, and put it out!

Who Funds the Sheriff’s Office?

• 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.”

Wildfire in Colorado

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

Summary of Eligible Resources

Resource Initial Attack Period (Not to Exceed 24

Hours)

2nd Operational Period

20 Person Handcrew (2 days total per incident)

Yes Yes

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 Very Large Airtanker (1 drop per incident)

Yes No

Type 2 Helicopter Yes Negotiable

Type 3 Helicopter Yes Negotiable

Single Engine Air Tanker Yes Negotiable

Aerial Supervision Aircraft (if required) Yes Negotiable

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.

Do You Know the Name of this Fire?

• 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

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 Emergency Fire Fund (EFF)

• 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

State Responsibility with EFF Depleted

• 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

COMPLICATING!!!!!!!!!

Wildfire in Colorado DFPC

Years EFF IncidentsEFF

Average/YearFEMA Incidents

FEMA

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

• 2010 Fourmile Fire: 168 homes, 231.8 million in

insured losses

• 2012 High Park Fire: 259 homes, 113.7 million in

insured losses

• 2012 Waldo Canyon Fire: 346 homes, 460.3 million in

insured losses

• 2013 Black Forest Fire: 511 homes, 420.5 million in

insured losses

Denver Post Research on Insured Losses

Peak 2 Fire Photo and the Future

Division of Fire Prevention and Control

Our mission is to serve and safeguard the

people and protect the property, resources,

environment, and quality of life in Colorado.

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