Preparation key to protecting homes from grass fires

By Gary Raham
Wellington Correspondent

What do you do when you see a wind-whipped wall of fire racing toward your home?

Wellington area resident Sue Crow had firsthand experience last June 24 when fire, likely caused by a carelessly thrown cigarette, threatened her property. More importantly, she has a strategy for reducing the risks to her home and being prepared when fire threatens again.

"Your best defense is knowledge," she said.

That knowledge includes reducing the risk of a fire getting too close to home, being armed with the right tools and knowing whom to call on for help.

"Keep a water source handy," Crow said. "Keep weeds and grass cut short near your home. Keep a sharp pick and good shovel in the back of your vehicle (for making a fire break), and know the people who are going to save your property."

Crow saw the June 24 fire start and called 911 right away. Even so, living on a 40-acre piece of property near the Rawhide Energy Station, it took the Wellington Volunteer Fire Department 45 minutes to arrive. Fortunately, Crow had experience fighting fires as a volunteer in another state. She enlisted friends to help dig trenches to deflect and slow down the course of the fire.

Crow saw at least a half dozen fires in her area last year, some caused by lightning, some caused by carelessly tossed cigarettes, and one garbage fire that got out of control.

Wellington Volunteer Fire Chief Ken Betchel said that 75 to 100 fires were reported last year, with 20 of those falling into the serious category where people or property were threatened.

"Keep fuels (like stacked lumber and brush) away from structures," he said, "and keep gutters cleaned out."

He also emphasized the need to make sure the home's address is well marked so that firefighters don't have to guess where to go.

Assistant Fire Chief Dave Netik also mentioned not letting trees grow too close to the house, or at least reducing the proximity of limbs to the home. This is often a problem for fires that start on mountain property.

With the added moisture early this year, grass may get a healthy start in the spring. Betchel said that firefighters should be ready for the fire season to start in June and continue through the dry months of July and August.

"The fire season may be extended this year," he said "because of the weather we've had."

Wellington's Volunteer Fire Department, consisting of 35 individuals, has to cover 288 square miles from the Wyoming border to the north, the Weld County line to the east, and U.S. Highway 287 to the west.

Crow also noted that the Rawhide Energy Station has its own firefighters on call.

Calling 911 certainly works well, but she keeps Betchel's number handy (568-3232) as well as the number of Glen Wiggins at Rawhide nearby (226-4000). She made 15 to 20 calls last year after spotting smoke.

"Some people panic when a grass fire starts," she said, "and those people should stay away."

Both Betchel and Netik urge people to see to the safety of home, family and animals first, but wetting down the roofs of buildings and around the perimeter of a home can help protect property for a short period of time.

"Be vigilant" is Crow's advice to landowners.

"Grass fires move so incredibly fast," she said. "Even with the network of roads we have out here - which you would think would be a pretty good fire break - that thousand-acre fire we had jumped the road three times."