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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Questions?