State officials said Friday they are preparing to face the worst wildfire season in Colorado history with new firefighting technology and quicker response times.
“I absolutely feel we are better prepared than we ever have,” Michael Morgan, Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control Director told reporters Friday. Morgan, Gov. Jared Polis, state lawmakers and local leaders outlined the state’s response to climate change and wildfires at Wings Over the Rockies Museum.
Officials Friday pointed out that over the past two years, Colorado has experienced the four largest and most devastating wildfires in state history. In response, Colorado has vastly improved its year-round response efforts and added more tools to battle blazes scorching mountains, plains and suburbs, Polis said.
New legislation sponsored by Senate President Steve Fenberg directs critical relief to people and communities hit hard by destination wildfires while investing $15 million to aid first responders in dousing small flames before they become more destructive, Polis said.
The funding would support the extension of the state’s contract on the Large Air Tanker during peak fire season, as well as adding a second Large Air Tanker. It would also support the addition of two Type 1 helicopters, which are the largest and fastest flying helicopters used to respond to wildland fires and can be used to carry hundreds of gallons of water or flame retardant, according to a Polis news release.
This new technology, Polis said, “will be very effective in the early stages of a fire.” Colorado also now has control over fire fighting support that can be dispatched statewide without relying on other states to loan out air tankers and helicopters, he said.
“Whoever controls (the technology) can now have a major impact on these fires,” he said.
With the funding from Fendberg’s legislation, Colorado would also invest in an improved dispatch system which would allow localities and the state to work together to get resources out to fires and firefighters more quickly, the news release states.
The bill would establish the Office of Climate Preparedness, focusing attention and coordination across the state government, on the state’s climate adaptation and disaster recovery needs, the news release states. The office will add capacity to support recovery efforts from natural disasters and lead the development of a statewide comprehensive climate preparedness roadmap, the news release states.
Stan Hilkey, executive director of Colorado Department of Public Safety, said in the news release that the proposed funding will bulk up existing fire fighting resources.
“With that additional funding, we endeavor to expand the time on existing contract aircraft, add additional Large Air Tanker aircraft and also add more contract helicopters, keeping in mind we are competing for resources with other states,” Hilkey said.
