Lack of wildfire plan kills grant chances

Manitou Springs has turned its back on a program that has helped Colorado Springs secure more than $1.2 million in grants to clear out vegetation that could fuel a wildfire.

Manitou officials say they will look into developing a Community Wildfire Protection Plan and other ways to compete for the federal money as soon as conditions allow.

The plan, defined by federal law in 2003, is designed to address challenges communities face in mitigating wildfire risk and coordinating response in "wildland-urban interface areas."

The development of such a plan, which can be drafted by any government or community group, has been a prerequisite for obtaining federal mitigation grants since the law passed, said Christina Randall, wildland risk manager for the Colorado Springs Fire Department.

The concern about Manitou's lack of a plan was brought up by Deborah Felton, who unsuccessfully tried in June to win council permission to keep goats behind her Spring Street property. The goats, she said, would keep dry brush under control.

It was in following up with state and national forestry officials that she learned of Manitou's lack of a CWPP.

When smaller neighboring towns developed their plans in 2006 and 2007, they invited Manitou's volunteer fire department to participate, said David Root, assistant district forester for the Colorado State Forest Service, which coordinates the plans and administers federal grant money.

Manitou dropped out of those meetings without explanation and wasn't included in the final plans, he said.

Manitou Fire Chief Keith Buckmiller was not available to comment, but an e-mail from Deputy City Administrator Mike Leslie, who was investigating Felton's concerns, said Buckmiller felt the city would be better served by joining Colorado Springs and/or El Paso County plans.

Randall said Manitou hasn't sought inclusion in Colorado Springs' plan. A county sheriff's spokeswoman said she didn't know if Manitou had approached the county, but would have someone look into it.

Manitou has agreements with both governments to share fire-response services, Manitou fire spokesman Dave Hunting said.

Where mitigation is concerned, Hunting pointed to a city ordinance that places the responsibility for clearing flammable materials on "the owner or occupant of the premises."

City Councilwoman Aimee Cox said Felton's concerns would cause the city to re-examine its preparedness efforts.

"What I would like to see is the city really take a strategic look at our wildfire opportunities," Cox said. "When council sits down to figure out what our priorities are going to be ... this will have to be one we consider."

But in a town without the funds to hire a city administrator, public works director or code enforcement officer, Cox isn't sure where that priority will fall. That's a shame, she said, since general concerns about wildfire safety have existed in the town - which is surrounded by forested foothills and has seen wildfires before - for years.

"I think sometimes we do a little dance, smudge some sage or something, and hope it will all go away," she said.

The Colorado Springs Fire Department has gotten more than $1 million to clear potential wildfire fuel in its interface area, which stretches from the Air Force Academy to NORAD, Randall said. That money didn't come without strings attached - the city had to match $250,000, which it has done with public safety general fund money and volunteer-donated labor.

For her part, Felton said she is working with the state forest service to develop a CWPP for her neighborhood.