Wildland Fire and Mitigation Resources
Elk Creek provides chipping services, mitigation assessments, and wildfire resources and education. Here, you will also find information on employment with the Elk Creek Wildland Fire Suppression Module.
Current Elk Creek Fire Newsletter
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(Past issues can be found here.)
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According to the US National Weather Service Denver/Boulder Colorado: Snow will develop over the mountains on Wednesday afternoon and continue through Wednesday night. Light snow will continue on Thursday as well.
Double-check to be sure everything is in your vehicle that you might need!
www.codot.gov/travel/winter-driving/winter-prepardness.html
"It's a story that's becoming more common among American firefighters, as years of exposure to modern building materials begin to catch up.
Today's homes are filled with plastics and asbestos, which produce dangerous carcinogens and toxins when burned. The dramatic impact of these toxins has only recently been discovered."
‘A Silent Killer’: 9 South Metro firefighters battling cancer
CASTLE ROCK, Colo. -- It is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. There is simply no way around it. From sudden cardiac events, to burning buildings filled with fire and smoke, dozens of firefighters pass away on the job every year. But new studies are revealing a concerning trend among our n...Please take the utmost care with your ashes to keep your home and family safe!Thank you @ICFPD for your assistance today on a possible house fire due to fireplace ashes. Here are a few safety precautions for disposing ashes:
- treat all ashes as hot
- wait at least 24 hours after a fire before removing ashes
- do not add live embers to the ash bucket
- do not add anything combustible to ash bucket
- place lid over the ash bucket to reduce the possibility of oxygen reaching a live ember or smoldering ashes in the ash bucket
- store the ash bucket (with ashes) in a well ventilated location as ashes may contain live coals (embers) from which carbon monoxide emits
- do not place ash bucket (with ashes) next to anything combustible
- pour a little water over ashes in ash bucket (think of properly extinguishing campfires), but do this in an outdoor setting in case of live embers or smoldering ashes
- allow ash bucket to sit for at least three days before disposing of ashes
From the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office:
Deputies are responding to a domestic disturbance in involving shots fired in 33000 blk of Harmon Rd in Pine. No injuries reported; suspect refusing to come out. Shelter in place issued for neighboring area. Please avoid the area.
Dear community, please see the press release below (also attached as an image). Chief Bill McLaughlin is moving in the direction of retirement. He has been a tireless leader for our department, and every one of us will miss him dearly. We are also very excited and happy for him as he embarks upon this next part of his journey. Chief McLaughlin has brought much success to our fire department, and he has created a launching place for future excellence and growth. All of us at Elk Creek Fire thank him for his years of service, and we look forward to creating the “next level of greatness” at Elk Creek Fire.
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION
15 November 2019
Media Contact:
Bethany Urban, Public Information Officer
burban@elkcreekfire.org
Elk Creek Fire Chief Bill McLaughlin Moves Towards Retirement
The Elk Creek Fire Protection District Board of Directors officially announced the resignation of Elk Creek Fire Chief Bill McLaughlin at the board meeting on Thursday, November 14, 2019. Chief McLaughlin has accepted the position of Fire Chief in Ketchum, Idaho.
“I have been working for some time on plans to retire,” states Chief McLaughlin, “and I have agreed to take a position that allows me to transition into that way of life. It was not an easy decision. I am leaving the best job I have ever had and the best department in Colorado for new challenges and some unknowns. After hard consideration, the opportunity to return to my roots and be closer to family was the right decision for me.”
In his eight years as the Fire Chief at Elk Creek Fire, McLaughlin was the driving force behind many successes and improvements for the department, including the recent successful mill levy. McLaughlin believes the timing is now opportune to step aside and allow others in the department to rise to new heights: “I never wanted to be the guy who hung on past when I was needed and stood in the way of the next generation of progress… this will be an opportunity to have some upward mobility in the department and open the doors to increased cooperation and new ideas. I have faith in all of the staff to take what I have started and turn it into the next level of greatness that is in Elk Creek Fire.”
Deputy Chief Jacob Ware will be stepping in as Acting Fire Chief.
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