Landowners invited to fire

Landowners invited to fire-hazard meeting

Sept 15, 2001

Property owners interested in learning about wildfire risks and getting help in protecting their homes and wooded lands are invited to a meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 18, at 6 p.m. in the Calvin Denton Room of the Empire Electric Building, 801 N. Broadway in Cortez.

An informational video called "Fire Wise" will be shown, followed by local fire-district representatives, who will share their knowledge and advice based on first-hand experience dealing with wildfires that burn or threaten homes.

A map depicting fire-hazard areas within Montezuma County will be presented. Fire-hazard areas that have been identified to date include all or parts of the Mountain View Subdivision, McPhee Mobile Home Park, Granath Mesa, the Lowry Ruin area, Dolores Rim, Summit Lakes, Cedar Mesa, Jackson Lake, East Canyon, the county landfill, Goodman Point, parts of Indian Camp Ranch and McElmo Canyon, the Kinder-Morgan pump stations and the Cash Canyon area.

Representatives of the Colorado State Forest Service will be on hand to talk about how they can help landowners design a fire-wise approach to their property, and the potential for financial assistance from the 50-50 cost-share program funded through the National Fire Plan.

Local businesses that specialize in helping property owners with fire-hazard reduction will also be available at the meeting.

Representatives of the San Juan National Forest, BLM and Mesa Verde National Park will discuss opportunities to coordinate fire-hazard reduction on private land with complementary activities on federal land. Funding to support fire-hazard reduction on public and private land is part of the National Fire Plan, funded by the U.S. Congress in response to the 2000 and 2001 fire seasons and the devastating loss of lives and homes that resulted.

For more information, contact Mike Preston at 565-8525.