1981 CO Drought Plan - Laserfiche WebLink

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ANNEX C WILDFIRE PROTECTION TASK FORCE #3 I . SITUATION: The threat of wildfire in rural and forested areas is a weather dependent activity that occurs annually. The problem is usually seasonal , but it can and does occur year-around in Colorado. Many agencies, local , state, and federal , are routinely involved in preparing for dealing with wildfires. Drought conditions, however, increase the severity of wildfire threat and strain normal fire defenses. As drought conditions worsen, there is need to make assessments and identify potential short-and-long-range fire protection impacts. Such evaluations are essential so that ongoing protection programs can be effectively strengthened to counter the expected threats. II . PURPOSE: The Wildfire Protection Task Force is part of an overall State Drought Assessment System. This task force will make drought assessments, wildfire impact projections, and recommend reinforcements necessary to maintain defenses against the threats. III . CONCEPT/APPROACH: Because wildfire does not respect man' s jurisdictional boundaries and can occur at any time, an inter-agency viewpoint is needed. An Inter- Agency Task Force will represent a coordinated approach to the state- wide assessment and impacts of drought. It will not replace, rather it will augment, the usual ongoing wildfire coordination activities. The task force will not be involved in fire suppression operations, or the establishment of priorities and allocation of scarce resources during fire suppression operations. The task force is intended to be an assessment, planning and preparedness group for the worsening threats of wildfire. Task force findings and recommendations will be assimilated into the overall State drought assessment and help assure effective response capabilities. Individual agency fire protection action programs will not be subject to task force approval . Coordination and cooperation among fire agencies is voluntary, but commitments made by (member) agencies will be expected to be upheld, consistent with funding. The task force will utilize various sources of information to develop wildfire threat and impact estimates. Data collection, evaluation, and reporting will focus on major problems present or likely to occur. Wildfire may also severely impact non-fire activities and commerce of Colorado. Therefore, exchange of data and results among the various Assessment Task Forces will be essential and expected. Flow of infor- mation may be formal and/or informal as outlined in the overall Drought Assessment System. C-3-1