Firefighting

When we first began building in the mountains there was sign outside the fire station looking for volunteer firefighters.  I never really had the desire to be a policeman, cowboy or fireman but I figured that since we were in a volunteer district I should look into this.  We live in the Cherryvale Fire Protection District which covers a total of about 55 square miles east of Boulder, the town of Superior and my part of the world in the mountains just west of Boulder. Needless to say, I joined.  Turns out to be one of the best decisions I ever made and I have now been with the department since 1989 as a firefighter, EMT and I also serve on the Board of Directors.

Cherryvale is now a part paid department.  Changing demographics and development necessitate keeping 2 of our 5 stations staffed 24/7 (24hrs/day - 7 days/week.)   "My" station (4) is still purely volunteer.

Cherryvale has developed a reputation for excellence in all areas of fire, but we truly excel in wildland firefighting especially in the urban interface.  This is where housing is close to and encroaching on previously uninhabited mountain terrain.  Every year we have had crewed engines working dispatches on most of the major fires burning in the West and I'm proud to say that our people and equipment are highly valued by Incident Command teams.   

There have been several large fires over the years in the Boulder County mountains but none in my immediate area.  That all changed in September, 2000 with the 1100 acre Walker Ranch Fire which came within about 3/4 mile of my house.   It puts a whole new perspective on fighting fires when your own home is being threatened.  And there was a time when I had resigned myself to the distinct possibility that my house was going to be toast.  We actively fought the fire for 5 days and through our hard work, teamwork with many other local fire departments that provided mutual aid, an aggressive air attack and finally a welcome snow storm we brought the fire under control.  And even though up to 250 houses were threatened, none were lost and there were no injuries.

 Click here or on the picture below for photos of the Walker Ranch Fire.

The buildings are the original Walker Ranch structures.  This was a working cattle ranch and logging operation up to the 1960s when the family sold the ranch of about 6000 acres to Boulder County for Open Space.  This was taken on the morning of the 2nd day of the fire.