After a successful Pie Day morning, Rotarians gathered at the Elks Lodge to enjoy some fellowship and learn more about the Glenwood Springs Fire Department from Steve Sandoval, Fire Inspector and Investigator for GSFD.
The fire district serves 72 square miles – Sunlight to Hanging Lake to Canyon Creek and points in between – and addresses both urban and rural areas.
Sandoval, who has visited the club before, spoke about the State of Public Safety and Wildfire Readiness. The topic could not be timelier as the Western US is experiencing unprecedented drought and the seasonal outlook is a HOT summer.
Wildfire poses a significant threat to our area as it is heavily wooded, and forests are stressed from continuing drought conditions. Sandoval stressed that the department anticipates responding to more wildfires due to inadvertent mistakes such as dragging vehicle chains along the highway, lightening strikes, windy and dry conditions, and accidental campfires from unhoused individuals.
How is the GSFD getting ready? Fuel reduction projects are ongoing throughout the district. Training and collaborating with regional partners; municipal fire departments, county wildfire teams, state agencies, etc. Educating the public is a high priority as the county moves to Stage 2 fire restrictions soon.
Sandoval stressed several important actions each of us can take:
- Know your emergency evacuation route – GS Fire Department Links
- Sign up for County emergency notifications
- Prepare an emergency evacuation Go Bag from Ready, Set, Go
- Promote fire fighting as a career to others; there is an employee shortage due to high cost of living and attainable housing.