October 29, 2007
On the Scene With Springs-based Firefighting Air Tankers in California
October 29, 2007 10:33 AM
On Friday, Oct. 26, the Air Force Reserve unit based at Peterson Field flew members of the local media to California to see their air and ground crews in action fighting fires.
[LISTEN]
SLIDESHOWPosted by Eric Whitney at 10:33 AM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Colorado , Colorado Springs , Environment , Media , Military , Regional , Slideshow , Wildfires
October 25, 2007
Interview With Springs Firefighter in California
October 25, 2007 6:24 PM
To listen to an interview with Master Sergeant Pamela Ammon of the 302nd Airlift Wing, click here.
Photo by Tech. Sgt. Roy A. Santana
U.S. Northern Command also supplied us with this video of C-130s fighting the California wildfires
U.S. Northern Command in Colorado Springs issued this press release at 1:30 Thursday morning, Oct. 25, 2007
CHANNEL ISLANDS AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Calif. At the request of the local incident commander Wednesday afternoon, five Air National Guard and Reserve C-130 Hercules aircraft equipped with the Modular Airborne Firefighting System flew their first missions in support of the California wildfires. The aircraft, under operational control of U.S. Northern Command, were tasked to attack the Poomacha fire burning in San Diego County. The five aircraft came from three units; the 302nd Airlift Wing, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo, 153rd AW, Cheyenne, Wy, and the 145th AW from Charlotte, N.C. All aircraft successfully completed their missions and have returned to base. Operations will resume Thursday morning.
Posted by Eric Whitney at 6:24 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Colorado Springs , Military , Wildfires
October 23, 2007
Colorado Springs Military Response to California Wildfires
October 23, 2007 5:21 PM
Air Force General Gene Renuart Jr. at a press conference at Northern Command, Tuesday.
Photo by: Jaimie Stevenson
Lt. Col. Dave Condit is on the flight crew of a Peterson Field-based C-130 fighting fires in California.
Photo courtesy: US Air Force
A C-130 leaves for California.
Photo courtesy: US Air Force
The nationwide military response to the California wildfires is being coordinated out of U.S. Northern Command at Peterson Air Force Base. We hear from the top general there, Gene Renuart. Part of the response is sending half-a-dozen Air Force C-130 cargo planes specially outfitted to drop fire retardant. Two of those planes are from the Colorado Air Force Reserve's 302nd Airlift Wing based at Peterson. We talk to a navigator from the 302nd, Lt. Col. Dave Condit.
[LISTEN]
Posted by Eric Whitney at 5:21 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Military , Regional , Wildfires
October 19, 2007
Bi-Partisan, Multi-State Plea for Federal Fire Danger Money
October 19, 2007 5:06 PM
Photo by: Don Goede
Despite a couple of local grassfires this week, and small flare-up in Manitou in September, Colorado has been relatively wildfire-free this year. The 14,000 total acres that burned here is about four times fewer acres than burned in New Mexico, and far smaller than the 615,000 acres that torched in Utah. But one good year doesn't mean fire danger has gone away. On Friday, Oct. 19, a bi-partisan group of Congressional reps and Senators sent a letter to the U.S. Forest Service urging full funding of hazardous fuels reduction projects in the Rocky Mountain Region. Colorado's delegation was joined by counterparts in Wyoming and South Dakota. Colorado College Student Jaimie Stevenson reports that locally, the Pike San Isabel National Forest is looking at a 12% cut in its fuels reduction budget from last year, and that fuels reduction projects probably didn't have much impact on the mild fire season this year.
[LISTEN]
Posted by Eric Whitney at 5:06 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Colorado , Environment , Forest Plans , Politics , Regional , Wildfires
September 19, 2007
Forest Service Begins Fall Prescribed Burns
September 19, 2007 6:23 PM
Colorado largely escaped the catastrophic wildfire season that hit so many other western states this summer. And now with fall approaching, the U.S. Forest Service is starting to set some fires in our area to help reduce future fire danger.
[LISTEN]
Posted by Eric Whitney at 6:23 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Colorado , Environment , Forest Plans , Wildfires
August 30, 2007
Local News Round-up, Aug. 30, 2007
August 30, 2007 5:14 PM
Pinon Canyon expansion opponents win withheld Army documents.
The state Housing Division reports that home foreclosure filings in Colorado are on track to rise 25 percent this year.
Two Indiana women are believed to be the first to adopt children under a new Colorado law that allows same-sex couples to adopt jointly.
Uranium mine near Gateway to reopen.
Summit County pays homeowners to reduce fire danger.
[LISTEN]
Posted by Eric Whitney at 5:14 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Agriculture/Ranching , Business , Colorado , Energy , Environment , Forest Plans , Ft. Carson , Gay & Lesbian , Poverty , Regional , Wildfires
June 26, 2007
Colo. Senators Split on Immigration Vote, other news
June 26, 2007 5:30 PM
Colorado's senators split their votes on whether to go forward with an immigration reform bill that the White House favors. Those wanting to continue work on the bill carried the day. Twenty-four Republicans joined 39 Democrats and one Independent.
Colorado Democrat Ken Salazar voted to continue with the bill, while his Republican counterpart Wayne Allard voted not to. Allard said he "could not in good conscience support this flawed process," and that lawmakers can do better than the bill currently before them. He says he will now do all that he can to focus on supporting amendments to address what he calls "serious flaws" in the legislation. There are currently some 26 proposed amendments that the Senate is considering, the bill faces another make or break vote in the chamber as early as Thursday.
The bill in question would provide a pathway to citizenship for millions of undocumented workers already in the country, and proposes a guest worker program. Supporters say it has many practical provisions, critics call it amnesty.
More local news after the jump: Ft. Carson Soldiers Killed in Iraq, Dust is Depleting Snowpack Faster, Greens Skeptical of Oil Shale Study and Granby Fire Now Contained....
Read More --> Continue reading "Colo. Senators Split on Immigration Vote, other news" »
Posted by Eric Whitney at 5:30 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Business , Colorado , Energy , Environment , Ft. Carson , Immigration , Military , Politics , Regional , Science , Wildfires
April 9, 2007
The West: A Dry Thirsty Tinderbox
April 9, 2007 5:21 PM
The Rocky Mountain West is growing fast, thirsty and poised to burn on a massive scale. Those are some of the conclusions from this year's State of the Rockies Report Card, unveiled today at Colorado College.
Read More --> Continue reading "The West: A Dry Thirsty Tinderbox" »
Posted by Eric Whitney at 5:21 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Colorado , Environment , Visiting CC , Wildfires
August 23, 2006
COMMENTARY: WILDFIRE DANGER STILL STALKS THE HILLS
August 23, 2006 9:54 AM
archivesCOMMENTARY: WILDFIRE DANGER STILL STALKS THE HILLS
Don't let the recent rains fool you, says Fire Information Officer Andy Lyon, serious wildfire danger still lurks in Colorado. [LISTEN] []
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Posted by Eric Whitney at 9:54 AM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Commentary , Wildfires
July 14, 2006
AFTER THE FIRES, FLOODS - MASON GULCH ONE YEAR LATER
July 14, 2006 10:33 AM
archivesAFTER THE FIRES, FLOODS - MASON GULCH ONE YEAR LATER
Four years after Colorado's largest wildfire, soils are still too fragile to hold much rainfall. Runoff from the Hayman burn area washed out a state highway last week. We visit the scene of last year's biggest wildfire in Colorado, Mason Gulch in Pueblo county, which is also suffering from flash floods. [LISTEN] []
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Posted by Eric Whitney at 10:33 AM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Colorado , Wildfires
June 30, 2006
FIREFIGHTERS GET BIG THANKS FROM SMALL TOWN
June 30, 2006 9:15 AM
archivesFIREFIGHTERS GET BIG THANKS FROM SMALL TOWN
The 14,000 acre Mato Vega fire near La Veta that's been burning for a week and a half now is all but contained. It was a big deal for the little town of Ft. Garland, where more than 500 firefighters were based. The people of the area turned out to show the people who came to help their gratitude. Miles Eddy reports. [LISTEN] []
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Posted by Eric Whitney at 9:15 AM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Wildfires
June 23, 2006
FIRE UPDATE
June 23, 2006 11:53 AM
archivesFIRE UPDATE
We have an update on the Mato Vega, Wrights, Lion Creek, Bear Creek and Jolly Mesa Fires, plus, Governor Owens and Senator Salazar worry this fire season could develop into a "Katrina-like situation" in Colorado this summer. [LISTEN] []
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Posted by Eric Whitney at 11:53 AM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Regional , Wildfires
June 21, 2006
THE MATO VEGA FIRE
June 21, 2006 11:08 AM
archivesTHE MATO VEGA FIRE
The Mato Vega fire burning near La Veta has doubled in size today.
Reports last night put the fire at approximately 4,500 acres, the blaze is now estimated to be burning some 8,960 acres in steep, heavily wooded terrain.
[LISTEN] []
Posted by Eric Whitney at 11:08 AM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Wildfires
May 5, 2006
CANON CITY TRIES "FIRE PREVENTION ON A SHOESTRING."
May 5, 2006 1:03 PM
archivesCANON CITY TRIES "FIRE PREVENTION ON A SHOESTRING."
[LISTEN] []
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Posted by Eric Whitney at 1:03 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Wildfires
LOCAL COMMUNITIES STEP UP FIRE PREVENTION EFFORTS
May 5, 2006 1:01 PM
archivesLOCAL COMMUNITIES STEP UP FIRE PREVENTION EFFORTS
Most of Colorado is now under federal stage one fire restriction, and fire officials say this summer is shaping up to be as dry and dangerous as 2002, when more than 800 square miles of the state burned. Small communities are trying to avoid a repeat of that devastating year. We have reports from Black Forest and Caņon City. [LISTEN] []
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Posted by Eric Whitney at 1:01 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Regional , Wildfires
April 19, 2006
HCN INTERVIEW: BUSH "FIXES" UNBROKEN FIRE PLAN
April 19, 2006 11:39 AM
archivesHCN INTERVIEW: BUSH "FIXES" UNBROKEN FIRE PLAN
High Country News Editor Greg Hanscom says there's no evidence that the Bush administration "streamlined" process to reduce fire danger actually works. In fact, the old system, with more environmental safeguards, seems to be working just fine. [LISTEN] []
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Posted by Eric Whitney at 11:39 AM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Interview , Wildfires
January 11, 2006
Mauricio Canyon Fire
January 11, 2006 5:18 PM
archivesMAURICIO CANYON FIRE
Eric Whitney reports from Aguilar, in Huerfano County, where five houses were destroyed by the 4,500 acre Mauricio Canyon fire. Firefighters received a little help from sustained snowfall. [LISTEN] []
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Posted by Eric Whitney at 5:18 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Wildfires
November 2, 2005
Wildland Fire Management Plan
November 2, 2005 12:13 PM
archivesWILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT PLAN
U.S. Forest Service officials in the Pike-San Isabel National Forest are considering an updated fire management plan. Eric Whitney talks about what it entails and what initial reaction has been. [LISTEN] []
Posted by Eric Whitney at 12:13 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Environment , Regional , Wildfires
July 23, 2005
USFS Fire Policy
July 23, 2005 4:00 PM
archivesUSFS FIRE POLICY
Eric Whitney reports on the U.S. Forest Service's plans to reduce forest fires in Colorado. As USFS employees tell it, they have some helpful tools to work with, but they can't use some others they'd like to. [LISTEN] []
EXPANDED CONTENT--> Read the Forest Service's letter asking for permission to enact a Wildland Fire Use Policy.
Posted by Eric Whitney at 4:00 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Colorado , Wildfires
July 16, 2005
Mason Fire Update
July 16, 2005 3:59 PM
archivesMASON FIRE UPDATE
Eric Whitney visits with Forest Service employees to find out what went well, and what didn't, in the effort to contain the Mason Gulch fire. [LISTEN] []
Posted by Eric Whitney at 3:59 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Interview , Wildfires
July 9, 2005
Newscast
July 9, 2005 5:08 PM
archivesNEWSCAST
Eric Whitney reports on the Mason Fire in the Wet Mountain Valley. Stephen Raher has updates on Gold Camp Road and a federal lawsuit against the City of Colorado Springs. And Victor Locke of KSUT reports on the ambulance helicopter crash last week. [LISTEN] []
EXPANDED CONTENT--> The Environmental Impact Statement for the Gold Camp Road project can be found online at the project'swebpage.
Posted by Eric Whitney at 5:08 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Legal , Regional , Wildfires
