By James Chilton
Wyoming Tribune-Eagle
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — As with so many other fire agencies across the Rocky Mountain West, Laramie County Fire District 1 has been having a busy season.
“I’ve been doing this for 27 years, and I can’t think of it being this busy before,” said district fire chief Greg Bauer, who took over for outgoing chief Aaron Fowler on April 6.
But that constant workload is taking its toll on the mostly volunteer department’s hand tools. And they’re asking for the public’s help.
Months of dry, hot weather have made much of the region a tinderbox for brush and wildland fires, and Bauer said his department has been fighting them on multiple fronts.
With six paid firefighters and 31 volunteers, LCFD1 has been able to commit resources to a number of larger wildfires burning across the region, though Bauer said he’s made sure to maintain enough local staff to remain effective in the district’s primary coverage area of south Cheyenne.
So far, Bauer said, his district has committed resources to five fires around the region: in Colorado, the Little Sand Fire near Pagosa Springs and the High Park Fire near Fort Collins; and in Wyoming, the Guernsey State Park Fire, the Russell Camp Fire north of Glenrock and, most recently, the Cato Fire near Buffalo.
“All the resources throughout the region are just so strung out right now, there’s just no way I can tell someone ‘no’ when they ask for help,” Bauer said. “But I can only send guys that are what we call red-carded, so they’re the guys who have been trained specifically in wildland firefighting.”
While his men have been doing good work, Bauer said the unusually busy season has taken its toll the hand tools firefighters use to cut and clear brush, as well as the coats, helmets and boots they wear to tackle the rough terrain.
“The apparatus (of fire engines, brush trucks and water tenders) is always good, but we use a lot of hand tools in wildland firefighting,” he said. “If you think of your typical pick and axe banging on rocks again and again - it’s just the nature of the beast.”
According to firefighter Jesson Vasey, LCFD1 usually just replaces hand tools as they become worn out, but since this particular season has seen so much heavy use, the district’s equipment budget is getting too tight to keep pace.
“In this local area, we didn’t use a lot of the brush coats and shirts that we have, but when it started spreading into other parts of the county, you’re dealing with more mountainous terrain, and it takes a much harder toll on your equipment,” Vasey said. “This year, because of so much usage against the normal wear-and-tear, we’ve had to work on other avenues and resources (to replace it).”
Vasey said the fire district has already received some new equipment from the Wyoming State Forestry Division, as well as through partnerships with local businesses such as The Home Depot. But he said he’s also hoping to raise at least $1,000 in local donations from his district’s constituents.
Vasey and his fellow firefighters will be in front of the local Safeway supermarket at 700 S. Greeley Highway and the Outlaw Saloon at 312 S. Greeley, to request donations from willing patrons. Bauer noted that anything helps, whether it’s cash donations or actual equipment.
“We’re not asking for a whole lot, just enough to replace the tools,” he said. “It bothers us all we even need to ask for the money, but it’s for good reasons.”
Bauer added that the district will also be accepting donations of money or equipment at Fire Station No. 1, located at 207 E. Allison Road.
Whatever the district does get, it will likely see use right away. With the Squirrel Creek Fire southwest of Laramie growing rapidly over the last several days, Bauer said there’s a good chance he’ll be sending out another crew to help fight it as early as Friday.
“Wherever they need us, we’ll send a brush truck up there,” he said.
Those interested in helping with money or equipment donations can learn more about LCFD1’s equipment needs by calling (307) 632-1696.
Copyright 2012 Cheyenne Newspapers, Inc.