Volunteer Fire Department Of Big Elk

AS VOLUNTEERS AND WITHIN THE CAPABILITIES OF OUR EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING, WE PLEDGE TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE OF THE BIG ELK COMMUNITY AREA FROM EMERGENCIES AND NATURAL DISASTERS, AND TO RENDER ASSISTANCE IN THE EVENT OF MEDICAL EMERGENCIES. BEYOND THE SAFETY OF OUR NEIGHBORS, WE ALSO STRIVE TO PROTECT THE FOREST WHICH SURROUNDS US AND THE HOMES IN WHICH WE LIVE.

RESPONDING TO 4 WILDLAND FIRES IN OUR COUNTY (LARIMER) AND IN BOULDER COUNTY AND EXTINGUISHING 19 CAMPFIRES ON U.S. FOREST LAND HAS KEPT OUR VOLUNTEERS ON THEIR TOES. IF ANY OF THE CAMPFIRES IN THE FOREST WOULD LEAVE THE CAMPFIRE RING OF STONES IT WOULD SPREAD AND OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY WOULD BE IN TROUBLE AS A NUMBER OF HOMES BACK ONTO THE FOREST. TWO OF THE WILDLAND FIRES WERE SMALL AND PROBABLY CAME FROM A CIGARETTE BEING TOSSED FROM A CAR. ONE LARGE FIRE WAS THE CALWOOD FIRE BURNING DOWN HIGHWAY 7 INTO LYONS AND COULD HAVE COME UP THE CANYON(HWY. 36)INTO OUR COMMUNITY. AT THE SAME TIME, THE EAST TROUBLESOME FIRE HAD REACHED THE CITY LIMITS OF ESTES PARK, SO WE HAD CREWS DOING PROTECTION OF HOMES. AT THE SAME TIME THE CAMERON PEAK FIRE HAD BURNED INTO THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK AND WAS HEADED TOWARD ESTES PARK. AUTHORITIES DECIDED TO EVACUATE THE CITY OF ESTES PARK AND OUR CREWS HELPED DIRECT TRAFFIC AND ALSO STOOD WATCH OVER SEVERAL NEIGHBORHOODS. FOUR VOLUNTEERS COMPLETED THE COURSE FOR FIGHTING WILDLAND FIRES AND AN ADDITIONAL SIX GOT RECERTIFIED VIRTUALLY. ALL COMPLETED THE ANNUAL "PACK TEST".

THE DEPARTMENT HAD 5 SEARCH AND RESCUE MISSIONS WHICH IS MORE THAN NORMAL. PEOPLE NEEDING RESCUE VARIES: THEY ROLLED THEIR UTV AND HAD SERIOUS INJURIES; SLIPPED AND FELL 8 FEET AND INJURED THEIR BACK; A SPRAINED ANKLE; A HIKER LOST BECAUSE HE DIDN'T STAY WITH THE GROUP; A FEMALE WAS TOSSED FROM HER HORSE DOWN A STEEP EMBANKMENT INTO A STREAM AND THE HORSE HAD THE GROUND GIVE WAY AND FELL DOWN THE EMBANKMENT LANDING ON TOP OF THE FEMALE. SHE HAD CRITICAL INJURIES. INCLUDED COSTS FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF OUR ATV AND UTV WHICH HELP TAKE OUR VOLUNTEERS INTO THE FOREST AREA WHERE MOST OF THESE EVENTS OCCUR. IT'S FASTER AND ALSO SOMETIMES THE PATIENT CAN BE BROUGHT TO AN AREA WHERE AN AMBULANCE CAN RECEIVE THE PATIENT. TRAINING FOR SUCH EVENTS IS REALLY HANDS-ON. VOLUNTEERS WHO DO THIS WORK ARE TOLD TO BE PREPARED FOR A 24 HOUR COMMITTMENT AND BE PREPARED TO HIKE IN ALL TYPES OF WEATHER AND TO HELP TRANSPORT THE PATIENT OUT. HAVE 4 TO 8 VOLUNTEERS TRAINED.

VOLUNTEERS WERE TRAINED FOR 24 HOUR EMERGENCY MEDICAL CALLS THAT WERE MOSTLY TO HOMES IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THAT OF PINEWOOD SPRINGS FPD WITH WHOM WE HAVE A MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT. PLUS THERE WERE AN ADDITIONAL 25 CALLS FOR MOTOR OR MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS ON EITHER LARIMER COUNTY ROAD 47 (WHICH COMES INTO BIG ELK MEADOWS) OR ON HIGHWAY 36 (NORTH ST. VRAIN). FIVE NEW VOLUNTEERS COMPLETED THE BASIC "EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONSE" CLASS. THE MEDICAL TEAM MEETS MONTHLY TO DISCUSS PAST INCIDENCES AND PRACTICE OUR SKILLS.

OTHER MINOR PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND THE DEPRECIATION OF CAPITAL ASSETS.