Summer 2021
By Rebecca Bratburd
By all indications, we are looking at the same or worse wildland fire conditions in 2021 compared to 2020, our new neighbors learned during our most recent New Resident Welcome. While this spring’s rain pushed back the start of the fire season, it enabled more grass to grow. When this grass dries out in June and July, it will become fuel for wildfires, Boulder Mountain Fire Protection District Chief John Benson said. Households from Pine Brook Hills, Boulder Heights, and Carriage Hills learned about the services offered by the mitigation crew, from property assessments, to gutter cleaning, and tree removal for fire sustainability.
Now is the time to make sure your household is fire safe. Visit our online Community Safety Store: www.bouldermountainfireauxiliary.org/community-safety-store. This time of year, we like to ask these three questions to keep you out of harm’s way:
1. Have you tested your fire extinguishers this year? If your extinguishers need to be replaced, Chief Benson’s top picks are available for sale in the Community Safety Store.
2. Are your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors up to date? Did you know that Boulder County code calls for detectors in every bedroom and every level of your house? Check to make sure your detectors are still working because sensors can fail over time.
3. Can your house number signs be easily seen by first responders coming from either direction, and at night? After winter, clean or replace your house number signs. You can find a reflective house number and stake kit online in the store.
Even households that answered “yes” to all of the above questions may have more preparation to do to improve fire sustainability.
For a comprehensive guide on home fire safety, grab a copy of The Fire Smart Home Handbook: Preparing for and Surviving the Threat of Wildfire, written by BMFPD resident, Clyde Soles.
During the New Resident Welcome, a question arose about composting and fire safety. For those scratching their heads: compost generates heat, and can spontaneously combust. Chief Benson has seen one fire originate from composting, and it caused part of a house and a shed to catch fire. Be aware of the heat that composting generates. A longtime resident in attendance mentioned that bears and other wildlife can destroy structures built around compost piles. Have you successfully composted in your backyard? We’d like to hear about it. Email: aux.president@bouldermountainfire.org
In other news, Boulder Mountain Handmade, our 45-year festival celebrating handmade art, crafts, and specialty food products in the Boulder area, returns to Elks Lodge on November 13 and 14, 2021. This is the Auxiliary’s primary fundraiser to benefit the fire department. We look forward to welcoming our artisan vendors, our many volunteers, and our loyal guests for our annual celebration of the arts in 2021.
Contact us at BMHArt@bouldermountainfireauxiliary.org to be added to our contact list. Visit bouldermountainhandmade.com for updates.
The invitation to join the Auxiliary, the organization that supports our fire district in a number of ways, is always open: www.bouldermountainfireauxiliary.org.