Site search
sponsored by
News
For many years, the Snowmass-Wildcat Fire Protection District has trained diligently in the specialty of wildland firefighting knowing that our local presented many of the same problems that we see on the news at big fires. Low humidity, low water content brush and trees on southern facing slopes. Houses close to brush and trees and with limited access. All of these have kept us on high alert every summer. This last year we have been able to add some new tools to our arsenal to help protect the Village and its residents.
First, Deputy Chief John Mele has been instrumental in working with local government agencies as well as local homeowner groups to put together a comprehensive Community Wildfire Operating Plan which will go far in our planning ahead on how to approach not only how to fight a wildland fire in the district but more important how we can work toward preventing such an event.
Second is a program that dovetails in with the Wildfire Operating Plan by completing surveys of homes in our most threatened areas. The surveys assist the homeowners with ways to improve the protection of their homes in case of wildfire by discussing use of defensible space and appropriate building and yard maintenance.
The third is the purchase of a new piece of fire apparatus specifically designed for use in the urban/wildland interface which most of the village consists of. The new vehicle is a 2009 Pierce Type III Interface Engine on an International 7400 WorkStar Chassis with a 315 horsepower motor. It has a short wheelbase and four-wheel drive for easy access both on and off road.
It carries approximately 650 gallons of firefighting water. It is equipped with a 1000 gallon per minute pump which can operate a remote control front water turret, two ground sweeps and four different pre-connected hoses all with pump and roll ability, meaning that it can pump water through these hoses while still moving (an important feature when fighting fast moving wildfires).
It also carries hand tools, chain saws, and portable pumps for wildland firefighting along with extra equipment to make it versatile in a structure fire like air packs, entry/exit tools, and ladders.
Most importantly, it is the first apparatus in our fleet to be equipped with a Compressed Air Foam System (CAFS). CAFS allows compressed air to be injected into a foam concentrate and water mixture to spray large amounts of very effective foam for either firefighting or a protective blanket on unburned homes and brush. This system will effectively stretch the water carried on the engine by upwards of 300 percent over standard firefighting techniques.
Even though we have managed to come through a number of bad wildland fire seasons relatively easily we here at SWFD constantly strive to be prepared with the best equipment available to respond to any emergency that comes at us and this new apparatus will improve our wildland firefighting capabilities immensely.
We hope that you all take the opportunity to drop by for a tour of the station and to see the newest member of our fleet.
First, Deputy Chief John Mele has been instrumental in working with local government agencies as well as local homeowner groups to put together a comprehensive Community Wildfire Operating Plan which will go far in our planning ahead on how to approach not only how to fight a wildland fire in the district but more important how we can work toward preventing such an event.
Second is a program that dovetails in with the Wildfire Operating Plan by completing surveys of homes in our most threatened areas. The surveys assist the homeowners with ways to improve the protection of their homes in case of wildfire by discussing use of defensible space and appropriate building and yard maintenance.
The third is the purchase of a new piece of fire apparatus specifically designed for use in the urban/wildland interface which most of the village consists of. The new vehicle is a 2009 Pierce Type III Interface Engine on an International 7400 WorkStar Chassis with a 315 horsepower motor. It has a short wheelbase and four-wheel drive for easy access both on and off road.
It carries approximately 650 gallons of firefighting water. It is equipped with a 1000 gallon per minute pump which can operate a remote control front water turret, two ground sweeps and four different pre-connected hoses all with pump and roll ability, meaning that it can pump water through these hoses while still moving (an important feature when fighting fast moving wildfires).
It also carries hand tools, chain saws, and portable pumps for wildland firefighting along with extra equipment to make it versatile in a structure fire like air packs, entry/exit tools, and ladders.
Most importantly, it is the first apparatus in our fleet to be equipped with a Compressed Air Foam System (CAFS). CAFS allows compressed air to be injected into a foam concentrate and water mixture to spray large amounts of very effective foam for either firefighting or a protective blanket on unburned homes and brush. This system will effectively stretch the water carried on the engine by upwards of 300 percent over standard firefighting techniques.
Even though we have managed to come through a number of bad wildland fire seasons relatively easily we here at SWFD constantly strive to be prepared with the best equipment available to respond to any emergency that comes at us and this new apparatus will improve our wildland firefighting capabilities immensely.
We hope that you all take the opportunity to drop by for a tour of the station and to see the newest member of our fleet.
