GMF Hitting Red Alert Button Over Fire Protection and Reliving Waldo-like Disasters

~ by Rick Langenberg ~

With the formation of a new joint Pikes Peak Emergency Management Office, Green Mountain Falls’ leaders want to get serious about fire safety and avoiding another Waldo Canyon disaster.

Moreover, they want to put boots on the ground in addressing the issue, rather than worry about assembling another updated study.

This was the theme of a short discussion at last week’s regular meeting. Mayor Pro Tem Tyler Stevens, who also serves as a key volunteer with the Green Mountain Falls/Chipita Park Fire Protection District, cited the importance of opening up more dialogue with the Emergency Management Office in preparing for future wildfire threats. 

A new joint office has been formed, with more coordination between the city of Colorado Springs and El Paso County and possibly other entities

“I am less concerned about pages (of a current study). I am more concerned about practicalities and getting people together,” said Stevens.

The mayor pro tem cited the importance of determining ‘who is going to do what’ if a disaster strikes again. “We need to be in coordination (with the Office of Emergency Management),” he stressed.  

A few trustees did mention a previous plan the town put together. That’s great, noted Stevens, but the town needs to deal with the realities of future threats and fires flaring over the mountainside. He believes better coordination with the Emergency Management Office is essential.

This theme was heavily supported by other trustees. Many memories persist of the horrific Waldo Canyon blaze of nearly seven years ago that prompted a mandatory community evacuation that lasted nearly two weeks. If it wasn’t for a solid fight put up by local firefighters to keep the blaze on the opposite side of Hwy. 24, GMF could have been wiped off the map.

According to all estimates, GMF was completely unprepared for the situation from a fire wise standpoint.  The floods the town experienced last summer even served as another warning of the vulnerabilities facing a small town like GMF, and the need to coordinate resources. 

Stevens believes that a lot more is needed than just updating a study. Town leaders say they don’t want to be in a constant reaction mode. 

Stevens was given the go-ahead to set up more meetings and briefings with officials from the Pikes Peak Office of Emergency Management.