Today’s Forest Health Outreach update covers the following:
*Forestry Tip of the Day: October is Wildfire Awareness Month
*Sort Yard: Last Day of the Season – Sat., Oct. 18
*Wildfire Awareness Month Calendar of Events
*Video: Colorado State Forest Service- Video #3

*Forestry Tip of the Day: October is Wildfire Awareness Month
Boulder County hosts Wildfire Awareness Month each October to help educate the community and promote individual responsibility in preparing for future wildfires. A series of events is scheduled around education, wildfire mitigation and community slash chipping. For complete details visit: www.BoulderCountyWildfireAware.org

Each year we bring in a nationally renowned wildfire speaker for our keynote presentation. This year we are excited to hostBrett Lacy, Fire Marshal of the Colorado Springs Fire Department.

Keynote: Waldo Canyon: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
When: Thurs., Oct. 30, 6:30 – 8 p.m.
Description: The 2012 Waldo Canyon Fire near Colorado Springs killed two residents, destroyed 346 homes, burned 18,247 acres, and forced more than 30,000 people to evacuate. At the time it was considered the worst wildfire in Colorado history. Fire Marshal Lacey will share lessons learned from the fireline. A dynamic speaker, Fire Marshal Lacey is a graduate of Oklahoma State University and is a registered professional engineer and safety professional.
Where: Boulder County Regional Fire Training Center, Boulder Reservoir, 5565 N. 51st St., Boulder (Directions: drive through Boulder Reservoir’s main entrance, continue past the recreational facilities to the end of the road where the Fire Center is located)

*Sort Yard: Last Day of the Season – Sat., Oct. 18
The final days of sort yard operations are upon us. Don’t wait; haul your logs, tree branches, pine needles and yard waste to us before we shut down for winter. Make sure to keep slash, logs and yard waste separated in your load. For more details on the seasonal closure see our press release:http://www.bouldercounty.org/apps/newsroom/templates/bc12.aspx?articleid=4235&zoneid=28

We continue to be amazed by the enormous volumes of woody material being dropped at both yards. This summer more than 600 mountain landowners took advantage of the free service.

*Wildfire Awareness Month Calendar of Events
Fire Prevention Week
Dates: Oct. 5 – 11
What: Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives: Test Yours Every Month! The Great Colorado Fire Drill: Practice your home escape plan, www.greatcoloradofiredrill.org

Healthy Forest Ecology and Wildfire Mitigation Tips – Interpretive Hike
When: Saturday, Oct. 18, 4 – 6 p.m.
Location: Nederland Community Forestry Sort Yard, 291 Ridge Rd, Nederland
Details: Join us for fun and informative “hike” exploring the forest at the Nederland sort yard. We will focus on how to properly manage your forest so it is healthier in the long-term. When cutting it is easy to make simple mistakes that could cause long-term forest health issues on your land. Blending the “art and science” of good forest management is key to your success. We will also talk about fall time wildfire awareness tips. As the leaves drop and the grasses turn brown it is an important time to not let your guard down.

What Is the Future of Colorado’s Forests?
When: Tuesday, Oct. 28, 6 – 8 p.m.
Location: University of Colorado-Denver, Lawrence Street Center, 2nd Floor Terrace Room, 1380 Lawrence Street, Denver
Details: The Union of Concerned Scientists and the Rocky Mountain Climate Organization recently released a report titled “Rocky Mountain Forests at Risk: Confronting Climate-driven Impacts from Insects, Wildfires, Heat, and Drought.” This event will feature a panel discussion regarding the report and its implications for Colorado’s forests.

Prescribed Fire at Heil Valley Ranch, Boulder County Open Space
Details: A prescribed burn is planned for 156 acres at Heil Valley Ranch, weather dependent, over 3-5 days between Oct. 25 and Dec. 31. Expect park and trail closures during active ignition days.

Questions contact bcforestry@nullbouldercounty.org or 303-678-6211.

Wildfire Awareness Month Community Chipping Events:
Several community chipping events are scheduled during October. Take a look below to see if an event is being offered in your area.

Coal Creek Canyon Area Slash Collection Event – Oct. 18 and 19
What: Centralized Collection Event – You Haul It
Who: Open to residents of Coal Creek Canyon Fire Protection District
Contact: Email information@nullcoalcreekcanyonfd.org

Magnolia Road/ PUMA Community Chipping Event – Oct. 13
What: Discounted Curbside Chipping
Who: Open to residents living off Magnolia Road only
Details: Deadline to sign up is Oct. 10. Email Rob at robertjfrey@nullgmail.com

Sugarloaf Fire Protection District Event – Oct. 15
What: Discounted Curbside Chipping
Who: Open to residents of Sugarloaf Fire only
Details: Deadline to sign up is Oct. 14. Email CB at cbb@nullionet.net

*Video: Colorado State Forest Service- Video #3
We highly recommend watching the third video from the Colorado State Forest Service’s, four-segment video series. This segment is especially pertinent to each of you and  focuses on lessons learned from recent fires and highlights why proactive wildfire mitigation is so important.

Colorado’s Wildland Urban Interface: A Growing Challenge: http://vimeo.com/97549777

Cheers,
Ryan

Ryan Ludlow | Forestry Education & Outreach Coordinator 
Boulder County | Land Use Department
O: 720.564.2641 | F: 303.441.4856
rludlow@nullbouldercounty.org | www.bouldercounty.org/ForestHealth
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