Wildfire Resources

May 1, 2011 10:02 AM

U.S. Fire Administration (credit: CBS)

Ross Hambourger of Nederland took this photo on Sept. 6, 2010, of the Fourmile Fire.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, a wildfire is “an unwanted, non-beneficial fire that rapidly spreads on hillsides and in valleys, prairies or forests. Wildfires are a threat to homes, particularly those located in wildland settings near forests, in rural areas, and in the mountains.”

The links and information below help to explain how wildfires happen and what can be done to combat them once they break out. Several also provide important information about fire mitigation and what to do if a wildfire is threatening your community.

Also, check out the latest reports from CBS4 on wildfires in Colorado.

USDA Forest Service
Fire Danger Map
Wildfire & Insurance Guide
National Interagency Fire Center
U.S. Fire Administration
Colorado State Forest Service
Smokey the Bear

Firewise Communities Program
READYColorado
GeoMAC
American Red Cross
Road Closures Due To Fires
Good Question Reports
County Emergency Information

(credit: AP)

USDA Forest Service

The Fire and Aviation Management section of the U.S. Forest Service website lists all current, active large wildfires in the country and also has dozens of links that help citizens understand how national wildfire management works. Included is the official national wildland fire policy and a description of the different kinds of wildfire teams (Enginecrews, Helitack, Hotshot Crews, Handcrews, Partners, Smokejumpers) that get dispatched to fires, among many, many other resources.

Fire Danger Map

Check out the latest fire danger map across the United States.

Colorado Wildfire & Insurance Guide

The Colorado Division of Emergency Management website offers the Colorado Wildfire & Insurance Guide, a “solid reference tool for property owners/residents in the growing wildland urban interface areas in Colorado.” It’s put together with the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association, and it encourages residents to “consider steps you can take to ensure your insurance is up-to-date and coverage appropriate and, most importantly, to get tips on steps you can take to reduce your vulnerability to wildfire losses.”

National Interagency Fire Center

The National Interagency Fire Center has several important sections of their website relating to wildfires. Find descriptions and statistics on current fires on their Fire News page. It’s regional agency, the Rocky Mountain Coordination Center, features a Fuels and Fire Danger section on their website. They also have links to all of Colorado’s different “hotshot” and “smokejumper” wildfire crews. It also explains how the National Fire Danger Rating System works.

Colorado State Forest Service

Each spring Colorado’s governor delivers the state’s annual preseason fire briefing from the Colorado State Forest Service and other state and federal agencies that provide wildfire preparedness and response. The Colorado State Forest Service website provides a weekly update regarding the fire situation in Colorado from May to October. Daily updates are also released “when significant wildfire activity occurs.”

U.S. Fire Administration

The U.S. Fire Administration website provides site visitors with a brochure that outlines steps homeowners can take to protect their homes when wildfires are threatening them. It provides interesting tips such as “If you’re sure you have time (before you evacuate your home) … turn on a light in each room to increase the visibility of your home in heavy smoke.” The site also offers safety guidelines for firefighting crews.

(credit: AP)

Smokey the Bear

Smokey the Bear, who has spread the message that “Remember … Only YOU Prevent Wildfires!” for six decades, also has his own website. The site has a special Kids page where you can “explore Smokey’s cabin to find all sorts of fun and interesting things about Wildfire Prevention.”

Windcliff (credit: firewise.org)

Firewise Communities Program

The national Firewise Communities program website details many Colorado communities’wildfire mitigation efforts, including several on Colorado’s Front Range. Read profiles of Genesee, Perry Park, Woodmoor and Windcliff.

(credit: READYColorado.com)

READYColorado

READYColorado.com is designed to help every Coloradan become prepared to respond to and recover from a wide array of disasters … both natural and human-caused. Visit the READYColorado.com Website for more information.

(credit: geomac.gov)

GeoMAC

The Geospatial Multi-Agency Coordination Group or GeoMAC, is an Internet-based mapping application that allows people to access online maps of current fire locations and perimeters across the country. Visit the GeoMAC Website.

American Red Cross

The American Red Cross can be found at most fires that cause evacuations. The organization provides relief and supplies to weary firefighters and often provides shelter for families displaced by fires. Visit the American Red Cross Colorado Chapters website which is a collaboration of the following chapters: Mile High, Northern Colorado, Western Colorado & Southwest Colorado.

Road Closures Due To Fires

To view the latest highway closures in Colorado due to wildfires, visit the Colorado Department of Transportation website. (Their listings generally include only major highways, interstates and state highways that are affected by wildfires. Information about various county roads, local roads and forest roads that might be closed in immediate wildfire areas will be found on county emergency management websites and forest service websites.)