I_WMRC_2021A 09/02/2021 09:09:09 AM Committee Summary PUBLICSTAFF SUMMARY OF MEETINGINTERIM COMMITTEE WILDFIRE MATTERS REVIEW COMMITTEE Date 09/02/2021 Attendance Coram X Lee X Lynch E Simpson X Snyder X Story X Valdez D. X Will E Ginal X Cutter X Time 09:09:09 AM to 04:03:53 PM Place Old Supreme Court This Meeting was called to order by Cutter This Report was prepared by Ryan Dudley Hearing Items Action Taken hOpening Remarks Committee Discussion Only hTimber Industry and other Mitigation Strategies Committee Discussion Only hDevelopment and Home Hardening in WUI Areas Committee Discussion Only hSafe Evacuation from Wildfire Committee Discussion Only hEnvironmental and Health Impacts of Wildfire Committee Discussion Only hWater Impacts and Recovery Efforts Committee Discussion Only Opening Remarks - Committee Discussion Only 09:09:24 AM Representative Cutter, committee chair, made opening remarks to the committee. Presentations and committee materials may be accessed here: http://leg.colorado.gov/content/iwmrc2021acommsched. Timber Industry and other Mitigation Strategies - Committee Discussion Only 09:10:27 AM Molly Pitts, Director of the Colorado Timber Industry Association, presented on the importance of the timber industry in Colorado. She discussed the viability off the logging industry and workforce development issues. Members of the committee asked questions to Ms. Pitts. 09:54:28 AM Susan Matthews, Interim State Forester and Director of the Colorado State Forest Service, discussed wildfire mitigation strategies. She described the need for investment in forest health in high priority areas. Director Matthews discussed future capacity to treat forest acres. Members of the committee asked questions to Ms. Matthews. Development and Home Hardening in WUI Areas - Committee Discussion Only 10:24:22 AM Mike Morgan, Director of the Division of Fire Prevention and Control, Department of Public Safety, presented to the committee on best practices for home hardening in the wildland-urban interface (WUI), and public education on hardening structures in the WUI. Director Morgan answered questions from the committee. 10:48:13 AM Rachel Lee, Interim Government Affairs Manager, Colorado Association of Home Builders; Marla Novak, Director of Government Affairs, Housing and Building Association of Colorado Springs; and Josh Peterson, Vanguard Homes, presented to the committee on home building in the WUI. They discussed building codes, defensible space, and construction materials and techniques to resist fire. Members of the committee asked questions to the panel. Safe Evacuation from Wildfire - Committee Discussion Only 11:24:03 AM Skip Shirlaw, Chief of the Inter-Canyon Fire Protection District, presented to the committee on difficulties with safe evacuation from wildfire, and strategies to improvide evacuations. Chief Shirlaw answered questions from the committee. 11:54:06 AM Jason Whitesell, Emergency Operations Director, Larimer County Sheriff's Office, presented to the committee on best practices for evacuation from wildfires in Larimer County. Committee members asked questions to Mr. Whitesell. 12:18:06 PM The committee broke for lunch. Environmental and Health Impacts of Wildfire - Committee Discussion Only 01:24:01 PM The committee came back to order. 01:28:39 PM Christy Richardson, State Toxicologist, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), testified regarding the public health impacts of wildfire smoke, and strategies to alleviate health impacts of smoke. Scott Landis, CDPHE, discussed air quality monitoring and forecasting in Colorado, and public health advisories. 01:42:44 PM Coleen Campbell, CDPHE, discussed open burning and the smoke management program. She discussed permitting for smoke management and non-standard projects. Dr. Richardson discussed the health impacts of wildfire-affected water with bacterial and chemical contaminants. Tyson Ingels, CDPHE, presented on tracking wildfire impacts to water and wastewater systems. He discussed numerous water quality and watershed impacts from wildfire, and the post fire recovery response. 02:10:25 PM The presenters responded to committee questions. 02:29:55 PM Michael Ruddock, Healthy Air and Water Colorado, presented on mental health and firefighters. He described fire fighter suicide rates and mental health issues. Melissa Lineberger, Division of Fire Prevention and Control, DPS, discussed wildland firefighters and the unique challenges that firefighters face. She described a peer support program. grant funding to local firefighters for mental health resources, and nonprofits working on firefighter mental health. 02:45:21 PM Mr. Ruddock responded to committee questions, and continued his presentation. He discussed efforts in other state and across the country regarding mental health supports for firefighters. Ms. Lineberger and Mr. Ruddock responded to committee questions. Water Impacts and Recovery Efforts - Committee Discussion Only 03:04:43 PM Christina Burri, Denver Water, presented on wildfire impacts on watersheds in Colorado. She discussed Denver Water's water supply system and past wildfires that impacted the system. Ms. Burri discussed post-fire recovery projects and their costs, and long term watershed mitigation projects and partnerships. She discussed response and recovery to the Williams Fork fire in 2020, and provided policy recommendations to the committee. 03:23:17 PM Esther Vincent, Northern Water, presented on the impacts of the East Troublesome fire and the post wildfire impacts. She discussed flooding, mud slides, debris, and algae in the watershed and recovery efforts. 03:47:34 PM Ms. Vincent responded to committee comments. Katherine Morris, Grand County, presented regarding watershed recovery efforts in Grand County. The presenters responded to committee questions. 04:03:53 PM The committee adjourned.
