Rifle Hosts Firewise Futures Event to Prepare for Wildfire Season

The sun beats down on the pavement outside Rifle's Ute Theater, a familiar landmark in this small western Colorado town. Folks are chatting, some sipping coffee, as they wait for the doors to open for the final event in the Middle Colorado Watershed Council's Fire and Water Speaker Series.

Here's the thing though: as summer approaches, the threat of wildfires looms large, and preparing for peak fire season is a priority for many Coloradans. The Lee Fire, which burned near Meeker last year, is still fresh in people's minds - it was the state's fifth largest wildfire, after all. That's why the Middle Colorado Watershed Council's "Firewise Futures: Readiness and Resilience in the West" event is so timely. It's a chance for attendees to gain critical knowledge and skills to protect their homes and families.

Kimberly Spuhler, Colorado's Community Risk Reduction unit chief, knows firsthand how important it is to be prepared. "I have two kids and I'm in the fire service," she says, "and I realized a decade into their life that I had never talked about fire drills or smoke alarms in the house." It's a startling admission, and one that highlights the need for education and awareness when it comes to fire safety. We just assume that we get that education at school, but that doesn't always translate into home preparedness and home fire safety. Not exactly.

The "Firewise Futures" event will feature a fire safety simulator, a mobile trailer from the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control. Using a smoke prop, the simulator will demonstrate cooking safety and help visitors understand how to safeguard their property. The trailer will be open for tours from noon to 8:30 p.m., and local schools are invited to schedule a field trip for guided demonstrations. It's a hands-on way to educate people, and one that could make a real difference in their lives.

As the evening program gets underway, attendees will be able to purchase food from the Hunger Tech food truck, and then settle in to watch the feature-length documentary "Elemental: Reimagine Wildfire." The film explores wildfires, community preparedness, and the American West's changing climate, highlighting the stories of fire survivors, Indigenous people, and climate experts. Zach Pigati, chief of Colorado River Fire Rescue's Wildland Division, says the film "goes into depth about the importance of defensible space to prevent wildfire, or home ignitions during wildfire, but mainly talks about non-combustible building materials and how we can better defend against wildfire destruction of homes with that type of building construction." It's a critical topic, and one that will be on many people's minds as they watch the film.

After the documentary, a 30-minute panel discussion and audience question and answer session will begin. Panelists will include Matthew Schiltz, a supervisory forester at the Colorado State Forest Service's Rifle Field Office, Ken Hutchinson, a Colorado River Fire Rescue Wildland Division lieutenant, and Lisa Hughes. They'll be talking about strategies for mitigating wildfire risk, and what individuals can do to protect themselves and their property. It's a conversation that's long overdue, and one that could make a real difference in the face of increasing wildfire risk.

As the event comes to a close, the sun will be setting over Rifle, casting a golden glow over the town. It's a beautiful sight, but it's also a reminder of the challenges that lie ahead. Wildfires are a reality in this part of the world, and it's up to all of us to take action. The "Firewise Futures" event offers a unique opportunity for people to come together, share knowledge, and develop plans to address the growing threat of wildfires. And that matters because, as we all know, knowledge is power.

The Ute Theater's doors are open now, and people are starting to file in. The fire safety simulator is ready, the documentary is cued up, and the panelists are waiting to share their expertise. It's going to be a long evening, but it's one that could make a real difference in the lives of everyone in attendance. The threat of wildfires may be looming, but with events like this, folks in Rifle and beyond can feel a little more prepared, a little more resilient.