County Commissioners to examine Shooting

BOD Meeting Reminder
Wednesday November 9, 2011 7:00PM

FOMP will hold a Board of Directors Meeting on Wednesday November 9, 2011 at 7:00PM. This is a change from our normal Tuesday timeslot because of Elections on Tuesday November 8. This is also the first BOD meeting in the classroon since the wind down of summer activites and on the trail BOD meetings so please join us!

BOD Meetings are held in the Fire Center Classroom. For those of you unfamiliar with the classroom building make your first left into the Fire Center after Mt. Herman Rd. turns to dirt, follow the road all the way into the administrative area and the classroom building is the first building on your right.

Agenda:

1. Finances
2. Summer season review
3. 2012 Planning
4. BoCC shooting meeting review
5. other items

Thanks and we hope to see you there!
FOMP

Active Fire Alert!

There is an actively burning fire just South of Mt. Herman and North of USAFA on the east face of the foothills.

The Monument Helitac crew and as well as other local resources are being dispatched along with other crews are and will be cutting lines and working on perimeter control. The fire is burning in Ponderosa Pine and brush. They will be managing for surpression and containment.

Location: Lat/Long 39.0492/104.9142 S31 T115 R67W
(Google map: http://bit.ly/ritB4V)

The USFS district is actively putting this information out on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/#!/PSICC_NF

—

Update: The fire now has a name:

#Beaver Creek Fire-Located just off of Mt. Herman Road North of the AFA. Additional resources ordered-Type 1 Helicopter and Air Supervision

Update:
Monument Helitac just dropped a crew in … but they look tiny up against the plumes of smoke and the acreage.

As you may have heard by now the  Pike & San Isabel National Forests, Cimarron & Comanche National Grasslands have upgraded their fire restrictions going into the holiday weekend. The full text of the ban is below.

Have a great 4th of July weekend!

Thanks
FOMP

From the Pike NF Home Page
http://bit.ly/mOqvtF

Stage 2 Fire Restictions

Release Date: Jun 30, 2011

Contact(s): Barbara Timock

PUEBLO, Colo., June 29, 2011– As of today, Wednesday June 29, a Stage 2 fire restriction Order has been implemented by the Pike & San Isabel National Forests, Cimarron & Comanche National Grasslands (PSICC) in response to the severe wildfire threat in southern Colorado.

The public is prohibited from building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, charcoal broiler, or a coal or wood-burning stove, among other fire use activities.

The decision to move to these tighter restrictions is due to the high potential for human-caused fires, extremely dry conditions, and numerous fire starts in the area.

“Reducing the threat for new wildfires is one of the biggest priorities we have right now,” said Ralph Bellah, Fire Prevention Officer for the Pike & San Isabel National Forests, Cimarron & Comanche National Grasslands.
Affected areas include:  Pike National Forest, San Isabel National Forest, Comanche National Grassland, Jefferson, Douglas, Park, El Paso, Teller, Chaffee, Fremont, Huerfano, Saguache, Custer, Las Animas, Baca, Otero and Pueblo Counties in Colorado.
National Forest Service lands in Lake County are exempt from this Order.
Woodcutters should be especially careful in these dry conditions.  Make sure your chainsaw is equipped with an approved spark arrestor; be sure to have an 8 ounce fire extinguisher and a shovel when you are woodcutting.
The following acts are prohibited:

• Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, charcoal broiler, or a coal or wood-burning stove.
• Exception:  Petroleum fueled stoves, lanterns, or heating devices providing such devices meet the fire underwriter’s specifications for safety are permitted.
• Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three (3) feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material, or in areas posted by authorized Forest Officers.

• Welding, or operating acetylene or other torch with open flame.

• Using explosives requiring fuse blasting caps.

• Operating a chainsaw or other equipment powered by an internal combustion engine for felling, bucking, skidding, road building and woodcutting during industrial operations or fire wood gathering is prohibited from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Violation of these prohibitions is punishable as a Class B misdemeanor, by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for a legal entity other than an individual, or imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, or both. Title 16 USC, Section 551.

As has been the FOMP tradition for over 10 years we will be holding monthly trail work sessions on the second Tuesday of every month beginning in May. You can always find these linked on our calendar here along with any other upcoming events such as BOD meetings and other volunteer opportunities.

May 10, 2011
June 14, 2011
July 12, 2011
August 9, 2011
September 13, 2011
October 11, 2011

Thanks and we hope to see you out there soon!

FOMP and USFS provide all necessary tools. Volunteers should wear appropriate clothing for performing outdoor landscaping type of work. Volunteers should bring leather gloves, a personal water supply, eye protection, sunscreen, and bug repellent. We meet rain or shine unless there is lightning active in the area. In the event that you are joining us late we always leave a note at the trail head parking lot or you can call Jon Nordby (719.640.1347) or Chris Tirpak (719.439.8865) to find out where in the Preserve we are working that evening.

We make every effort to accommodate volunteer preferences and abilities at each event. Generally we perform activities such as water bar building or renovation, trail renovation, maintenance, and trimming, etc. So, pretty much everything from trimming back scrub oak or digging lots of dirt to moving boulders. We assign duties based on interest and capabilities. Kids are welcome to join their parents; however, we do ask that you evaluate whether this is an appropriate activity for your child or not.

Meet at the main trailhead parking lot at 6:00PM!