LFRA has responsibility to mitigate threats, respond to wildfires

In the local ballot issues document sent by the Larimer County Clerk and Recorder, there is a gross inaccuracy in a statement opposing Ballot Issue 2F, regarding a tax increase for the Loveland Fire Rescue Authority (LFRA). I want to address the statement found on Page 7 which reads, “Regarding the mention of ‘wildfire prevention,’ wildfire fighting and prevention are primarily county and state obligations (maybe even federal, given RMNP and national forests).”

I devoted 37 years of my life to Loveland Fire Rescue, including 7½ as the leader of the wildfire program. LFRA protects 187 square miles of land, which includes a large portion of wildland.

Individuals who believe that wildfire response and mitigation are the responsibility of the county, state and feds should read the Larimer County Annual Operating Plan, Agreement for Cooperative Wildland Fire Protection in Larimer County. Section 5.2, which addresses interagency resources states, “The Sheriff is the fire warden of the county and is responsible for the planning, and coordination of efforts to suppress wildfires occurring in the unincorporated area of the county outside the boundaries of a fire protection district, or that exceed the capabilities of the fire protection district to control or extinguish in accordance with the provisions of CRS sections 3010513.”

Simply stated, the Loveland Fire Rescue Authority has the responsibility to mitigate the threat of wildfires and to respond to wildfires within the jurisdiction. Perhaps people have forgotten the Cameron Peak Fire, High Park Fire, Reservoir Road Fire, Bobcat Gulch Fire, and many others. The passage of Ballot Issue 2F will provide funding to address the threat of wildfire in our jurisdiction.

— Rick Davis, Loveland