When three fires broke out simultaneously in Boulder County on January 7, the response by firefighters, the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office and 75 other emergency response and rescue crews was swift but not without some problems that remain a cause for concern for public safety.
This morning, Boulder officials held a community meeting at Altona Middle School in Longmont to tell members of the public about what they experienced fighting the blazes and to provide information and suggestions about how they can prepare in advance for any mandatory evacuations.
“We had some dicey times,” said Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle. “You need to realize the realities and consequences of the realities.”
And some of the realities included the inadequacy of reverse 911 calls that aren’t able to notify people in the event of an emergency because warnings will only go to homes that have telephone landlines.
“The system is problematic and getting worse,” Pelle said. “We need to find software and vendors to help us.”
Pelle said he grew concerned when it took hours instead of minutes to reach more than 11,000 homes by phone.
One of the fires was started after a decaying utility pole was snapped in two by gusty winds on Neva Road, officials said.
The results of that fire and the one on Olde Stage Road resulted in the evacuation of 25,000 people and 3,008 acres being burned. Only one home was lost in the blaze, and no one was injured.
Pelle said the cost to fight the fires is still being tallied but could reach half a million.
The Hygiene fire was put out quickly by members of the U.S. Forest Service who had driven past it, officials said.
Christie Coates and her husband, Howard Gordon, attended the community meeting. Both were at work when the fires broke out and were warned about them by friends who called them. Christie said she attended today’s meeting to find out how authorities plan to get emergency warnings made available to cellphone users.
“During the (earlier) Jamestown fire, reverse 911 told me to get ready to evacuate. I had to get ready to go, but this time I was at work and unaware of the fires,” Coates said.
Another issue causing concern for Pelle and fire crews is people not taking preventative measures around their property to keep fires at bay such as clearing out brush and not stacking firewood under decks.
They also addressed people who fill up pickups with lots of personal items then leave them parked in front of their driveways until they have to evacuate. Pelle said that only hinders rescue and notification attempts by firefighters.
“If you don’t want to help yourself, we’ll just walk away, I’m serious about it,” Pelle warned.
Howard Gordon said he has already heeded the sheriff’s preventative message. He cleared brush off of his 2 acres and had a 1,500-gallon water tank installed. Gordon attended the meeting because he wanted to ask firefighters if he should put up a sign telling them about the tank.
“It would be a great asset to have them be able to tap into that,” Gordon said.
Annette Espinoza: 303-954-1655 or aespinoza@denverpost.com
