High Park Fire Anniversary a Reminder of the Work Homeowners, Congress Must Do to Brace for Modern Mega-Fires
‘I Strongly Urge Homeowners to Become More Fire-Wise and Prepare for Future Wildfires’
WASHINGTON, D.C. – June 10, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Mark Udall, who serves on the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, urged Coloradans following the one-year anniversary of the High Park Fire — the second most destructive wildfire in Colorado history — to prepare for future wildfires.
“The High Park Fire remains a constant reminder that wildfires threaten entire communities throughout Larimer County and all of Colorado. I am proud of the progress we have made over the past year — including my successful efforts to spur the acquisition of next-generation air tankers and to secure post-fire relief for the people of Larimer County — but we still have work to do,” Udall said. “I strongly urge homeowners to become more fire-wise and prepare for future wildfires. I also will redouble my efforts to ensure that the federal government puts to use every available tool to help protect lives and homes from modern mega-fires.”
The High Park Fire burned 87,284 acres on federal, state and private lands. The fire, which destroyed 259 homes, was the most destructive fire in Colorado history until the Waldo Canyon Fire, which started in late June 2012.
Udall has consistently urged Coloradans to prepare their properties for wildfire, including clearing fuels from around their homes and making a plan for what to do if faced with an imminent wildfire.
To learn more about steps you and your family can take to prepare for wildfire and the aftermath of blazes, visit:
- The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s wildfire resource page.
- The National Fire Protection Association’s Firewise Communities online resources.
- Fire Adapted Communities’ homeowners resource website.
- The Colorado Division of Insurance’s information website explaining how to prepare for wildfire and other disasters.
- FEMA’s FloodSmart program website.
Udall has been a leading voice for ensuring that Colorado and the West have adequate resources to prepare for the threat of wildfire, including pressing the U.S. Air Force to quickly transfer and repurpose excess aircraft to the U.S. Forest Service to fight wildfires. Udall also pushed to pass a bipartisan amendment to the U.S. Senate’s 2014 budget to allocate $100 million more for wildland firefighting and he successfully secured federal funds to repair drinking-water supplies damaged by 2012’s Waldo Canyon and High Park fires.
