Your home is likely one of the most significant financial investments you’ll ever make, which is why Douglas County continues to make significant investments in the firefighting tools needed to protect your life and property from wildfires.
At the April 12 Business Meeting, The Board of County Commissioners committed more than $1.3 million to the County’s 2022 wildland fire aerial firefighting contracts, ensuring air support in Douglas County is available at a moment’s notice in the event of a wildfire. This is the largest investment in aerial support in the County’s history and one of the largest by local government in Colorado.
A contract with Trans Aero, LTD, for $1,044,600 will provide 153 days of exclusive use to Douglas County. A Type 2 helicopter capable of delivering 300 gallons of water to the front lines of a wildfire will be standing ready to respond throughout Douglas County from June 1 through Oct. 31, 2022.
Additionally, three call-when-needed air support contracts were approved for use from April 13 to Dec. 21, 2022, each for up to $100,000, providing additional firefighting resources.
Wildfires can strike in any season, in any neighborhood, and move extremely fast. Aerial support is an essential tool in suppressing a fire’s growth and assisting firefighters on the ground as they work to save lives and property.
You can also do your part, as a family, to prepare for wildfires by doing mitigation work around your property and creating a defensible space between vegetation and your home. You can also sign up every member of your household with a phone for CodeRED notifications, ensuring you will receive emergency notifications in the event of a large-scale disaster.