WEEK OF APRIL 24, 2025
VOLUME 23 | ISSUE 20
FREE
Douglas County steps up wildfire fight Commissioners approve ‘call-when-needed’ agreements with multiple aerial operators BY JULIA KING SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Douglas County is doubling down on wildfire preparedness as the only county in the state with its own dedicated helitack team — a crew that uses helicopters to suppress wildfires, often in hard-to-reach areas. At an April 8 meeting, the county commissioners approved public service contracts with multiple aerial fire suppression vendors, adding to a growing arsenal of support options. The contracts, each capped at $100,000 and structured as “callwhen-needed,” will only be activated and paid for if their services are used. Those deals complement an earlier contract approved in January that will provide a “hawk-level” helicopter on an exclusive basis to Douglas County for a minimum of 168 days, seven days a week, from May 17 through Oct. 31, said Mike Alexander, director of emergency management at the Douglas County Sheriff ’s Office. “We are the only locally sponsored helitack program in the state of Colorado,” Alexander said. Other helitack programs exist, but they are either funded and sponsored by the State Division of Fire Prevention and Control, the U.S. Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management. Wildfire risk maps from the U.S. Forest Service consistently rank parts of California and Colorado among the most high-risk regions in the nation. Commissioner Abe Laydon said the effort to bolster Douglas County’s aerial resources reflects its aggressive approach to fire mitigation. “The number one potential threat to Douglas County is the threat of wildfires,” Laydon said. “One square mile in Douglas County represents over $150 million in property values. We know that a catastrophic wildfire can be just around the corner.” Douglas County’s helitack team responded to 34 wildfires last year, including nine outside of county lines. Despite the ramp-up in resources, the county didn’t need to raise taxes to fund its wildfire mitigation efforts — relying instead on a combination of American Rescue Plan Act funds and general fund dollars, according to Laydon. SEE WILDFIRE, P5
Women’s group puts focus on volunteerism Event in Elbert will highlight needs of many local service groups BY NICKY QUINBY SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Douglas County’s helitack team, the only locally sponsored program of its kind in Colorado, works to suppress COURTESY OF DOUGLAS COUNTY HELITACK EMPLOYEES wildfires across the region.
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The Elbert Woman’s Club (EWC) is hosting its first-ever Meet Your Local Volunteers Event, set for 8 a.m. to noon on April 27 at the Russell Gates Mercantile Building in Elbert during the group’s regularly scheduled monthly breakfast. It’s an opportunity for local organizations to share about what they do and hopefully attract new volunteers. Wendy Walp, EWC treasurer, said the Woman’s Club is a volunteer group and recognizes that other nonprofits also need volunteers. Several groups have been asked to “work” the EWC breakfast and use the time to share info about their groups, she said. “Some of these groups are struggling and didn’t have enough help to fill the kitchen with helpers,” Walp went on. The idea is to give each organization a table to set up with their information as well as provide one volunteer to help with the breakfast. Walp has been volunteering her own time for years. “I give of my time, talents and treasures, because I have met so many amazing people,” she said. Spending time helping and supporting those around you also creates a community when you might not otherwise have one, Walp added: “When you live in a rural environment, it is really easy to feel all alone. When raising children without family around to help, it is so important to have others to help out. Personally, I do not have any of my family around, but I don’t feel alone, as I feel like a part of the community, which has become my family.” “Volunteering helps you know what is going on around your community as well as our county,” Walp added. “To make us wellrounded, fully supporting adults [and fully] supported adults, we need to give of ourselves to make it all happen.” Subject to change, a few of the organizations that will be present include: • Burro Base Camp SEE ELBERT, P6
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