Plateau Valley Fire Preparedness
- Mary Wareham
- May 17
- 4 min read
Recently, Black Mule Forestry had the opportunity to attend a wildfire preparedness event serving the Plateau Valley communities of Collbran, Molina, and Mesa. Events like this are incredibly important for rural Colorado communities, where wildfire is not a matter of if, but when. Bringing together homeowners, firefighters, utility representatives, and forestry professionals creates the kind of collaboration that truly helps communities become more resilient.
A huge thank you goes first to Mike Harvey of the Plateau Valley Fire Department (PVFD), who volunteered his time and shared a tremendous amount of practical, real-world knowledge throughout the event. Mike covered everything from home readiness and evacuation planning to community coordination during wildfire emergencies. One topic that especially stood out was the importance of driveway accessibility for emergency responders. For properties with long driveways, PVFD recommends having pull-offs approximately every 150 feet so emergency vehicles can safely pass each other during evacuations or fire response situations. It’s a simple concept that could make a major difference during an emergency. Another thought that not a lot of homes consider is the location of a propane tank. For wildfire preparedness, propane tanks should be placed away from homes with clear defensible space around them free of brush, grass, wood piles, and other flammable materials. Fire trucks will not park by a propane tank during an active fire! During a wildfire, tanks exposed to intense heat can become dangerous for nearby firefighters and emergency vehicles if flames reach the tank directly. They can explode and injure or kill those around it. Burying propane tanks can provide additional protection by shielding them from radiant heat, embers, and direct flame exposure, while also reducing overall wildfire risk around the home and creating safer conditions for responding fire crews.
Click on the link for PVFD Facebook Page and follow them for important updates and news!
Mike also showed an impactful video highlighting the Pine Gulch Fire, which served as a reminder of how quickly wildfire conditions can escalate in western Colorado. The presentation reinforced the importance of awareness, preparation, and proactive mitigation long before smoke is visible on the horizon.
Click on link for the Mesa County Burn Restriction Map
Another featured presenter was John Rizza, Executive Director of the Two Rivers Wildfire Coalition. John brought an extensive background in forestry, wildfire preparedness, private land management, and conservation to the discussion. His experience spans work with Colorado State University, the Colorado State Forest Service, USDA-NRCS, Oregon State University Extension, and the Colorado Department of Agriculture, all leading into his current role helping Mesa County communities better prepare for wildfire.
FireWise USA Resources: https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/wildfire/firewise-usa
John focused heavily on practical home-hardening strategies that homeowners can begin implementing immediately. He discussed the importance of proper fire mitigation setbacks for vegetation around homes, reducing ladder fuels, and maintaining defensible space to help slow the spread of wildfire near structures. He also emphasized how vulnerable homes can be to ember intrusion — embers finding their way into roof lines, vents, siding gaps, and other crevices on the exterior of a home. In many wildfire situations, embers are actually responsible for igniting homes long before the main flame front arrives.
Click on link below for a guide to preparing your home for wildfire and creating a defensible space!
Another valuable topic covered was the use of more fire-resistant building materials, especially windows and roofing systems. Drapes can catch on fire through a window, like a magnifying glass and an ant. John explained how multi-pane and tempered glass windows perform better during wildfire exposure and can reduce the likelihood of window failure from radiant heat. Small upgrades like screened vents, ember-resistant materials, and proper roof maintenance can significantly improve a home’s survivability during a wildfire event.
This is a great resource for how to construct your home with fire-wise code.
Mesa County Resiliency Code: https://www.mesacounty.us/departments-and-services/community-development/building/colorado-wildfire-resiliency-code
Representatives from Grand Valley Power, Tanya and Bill, also attended and shared information about the utility company’s responsibilities during wildfire events. They discussed vegetation management near power infrastructure, emergency response coordination, and how utilities work to reduce wildfire risks while maintaining service reliability. Their presentation highlighted how wildfire preparedness is truly a shared responsibility between homeowners, emergency responders, utilities, and land management professionals.
It was really fun meeting with and speaking to members of the community, grabbing pizza from Mountain High Pie, and seeing the fire trucks (we forgot to get some pictures)! We also met Bryan and Taylor "Tater Tot," who both work at the PVFD as firefighters/paramedic, stationed in Mesa. They are such wonderful people and we are glad to have them in the community. Also, special thanks to Julia MacDonell from the Mesa County Library system for helping organize the event!
Consider your evacuation plan with livestock and animals like cattle, horses, mules, dogs, ducks, etc! If you don't have a brand, a chip, or a collar, how can you get your animal back if/when they get loose? A firefighter or law enforcement may cut your fence if your animals are in danger. Write your number in paint somehow on the animal as a last resort to get them back, even if it is just one (considering horses are herd animals).
Last but not least, sign up for emergency alerts!
Emergency and Community Notifications: https://www.gjcity.org/439/Emergency-Alerts
Also consider the WATCH DUTY app that you can download and see all active fires in the US, and all the details about them!
At Black Mule Forestry, events like this reinforce why proactive land management matters so much in western Colorado. Healthy forests, defensible space, proper fuel reduction, and community education all play a role in protecting homes, ranches, and communities throughout Plateau Valley. We appreciate everyone who organized, presented, and attended this important event, and we look forward to continuing to support wildfire mitigation and forestry efforts throughout Mesa County and beyond.
Thank you for reading!
-Black Mule Forestry Team
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