Date: 10/01/2013

Final
Colorado State Fire Chiefs Leg. Recommendations

WILDFIRE MATTERS REVIEW COMMITTEE

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
<none><none>





09:01 AM -- Colorado State Fire Chiefs Leg. Recommendations

Chief Mike Morgan, President, and Mr. Garry Briese, Executive Director, Colorado State Fire Chiefs, presented some legislative recommendations on fires and wildfire-related matters to the committee. Committee members received a memorandum from Chief Morgan outlining these legislative recommendations (Attachment A). Chief Morgan provided an overview of the fire service in Colorado, and briefed the committee on the recommendations outlined in Attachment A.

131001 AttachA.pdf131001 AttachA.pdf

09:11 AM

Chief Morgan continued to discuss the legislative recommendations contained in Attachment A. Chief Morgan and Mr. Briese responded to questions regarding the fire chiefs' recommendations concerning inter-operable radio communications, including digital trunked radio. Chief Morgan responded to questions regarding the benefits of employing the Colorado National Guard to combat forest fires.


09:23 AM

Chief Morgan responded to questions regarding wildfire mitigation on lands managed by the federal government, and the ability of state government to assist local fire departments in assessing the potential impact of weather during a wildfire event. Discussion returned to federal efforts to perform wildfire mitigation on the lands under control of the federal government. Discussion followed regarding certain legislative recommendations put forth by Colorado State Fire Chiefs, as articulated in recommendations six and seven in Attachment A.


09:37 AM

Discussion continued regarding Colorado State Fire Chiefs' legislative recommendation seven, focusing on the responsibility of homeowners in the wildland-urban interface to perform wildfire mitigation on their properties, and the responsibilities of certain entities such as insurance companies in incentivizing such mitigation. Discussion returned to funding sources for operating and maintaining the state's digital trunked radio system.