Feb. 07--DENVER -- State lawmakers will look at ways to improve the response to wildfires in this year's session.
After one of the worst fire seasons in the state's history, new laws would promote safety measures to reduce the damage caused by fires, state Sen. Ellen Roberts, R-Durango, told the Colorado Water Congress last week.
Roberts chaired a task force formed last year after the Lower North Fork Fire in March killed three and destroyed 22 homes. The fire was a prescribed burn by the Colorado Forest Service on Denver Water land near Conifer.
The task force concluded that prescribed burns have to be more carefully managed.
"It's critical to have prescribed burns, or Mother Nature will do it for us," Roberts said. One bill would move the authority for such burns to the Department of Public Safety. The others would:
--Establish a forest health and wildfire committee to address specific laws needed to address problems. There already is a legislative committee for water issues, and there would be some overlap, but Roberts said forests warrant special oversight.
--Mobilize resources more quickly within the state, instead of relying on crews to be brought in from other states.
--Create a homeowner state tax deduction for taking measures to reduce the risk to homes that are vulnerable to wildfires. [email protected]
Copyright 2013 - The Pueblo Chieftain, Colo.
