Hello All - I wanted to provide a few updates from the newsletter that was sent out last week for spring and summer activities (also attached here for those who are new to this mailing).

1. Funding and assistance for private lands, roads, and property - I met with the Long-Term Recovery Group yesterday and they have confirmed that they have both funding and volunteers that can help with private road damages from the fire, arranging contractors to help with household debris transport, and to meet other financial needs. If you haven't already contacted them to determine what might be possible, please reach out at the following phone number:

970-232-1150

There were restrictions for federal assistance for some areas that are gated communities, but those restrictions do not apply for the Long-Term Recovery Group so please reach out. Also, I heard from one landowner that said that a faith-based group came up to help and began discussing religion with the landowner, which was not welcome. I want everyone to know that I spoke to our faith-based volunteer groups about this and they said that should never happen. They are sending out additional messaging for their groups so that you do not need to worry about a volunteer group coming to help you and bringing up their religious beliefs. They have strict rules against that for disaster volunteers.

2. Debris - Our debris contractor assessed the fire area and determined that moving trees to a mulching location will be difficult or impossible in some areas. Therefore, we are changing the debris plan to chip the trees on site. Many property owners have actually requested this so I hope that it doesn't cause concern. We will need Right of Entry permissions to conduct this work on private roads and lands so if you have not reviewed the form, please use the following link to sign or see the attached for review.

https://forms.gle/haB1idjVxpPS4N9t9

This will be done for both roadway vegetative debris and stream debris. For those who have hazard trees in other places on their property, please contact the case management phone number above for volunteers who can help to remove those trees. If we do not have permission from the landowner, we will have to leave the debris as is and leave the hazard trees in place for that specific property. If you need the form mailed to you, please let me know.

3. Insurance Question on Right of Entry Form - I have gotten a few questions about the Right of Entry Form provision regarding duplication of benefits. This clause was needed in the form to ensure people do not get funding from both insurance and FEMA for the same task. So, simply, if you have insurance to help with clean up and debris efforts, you should use that first and then other programs can be available for whatever remains. The county will not be seeking reimbursement from homeowners for the work we do in the fire area.

I think that is everything for now. If you have any questions please reach out to this email address. Thank you.

Lori Hodges, CEM, PMP
Director, Office of Emergency Management
970-498-7147
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FEMA is hosting a couple of webinars to help homeowners prepare for the after-effects of fires such as Cameron Peak. Both webinars are hosted via Zoom, and registration on the FEMA-Zoom website is required for access. Click on the links below for more information.

• Wildfire Preparation & Recovery Lunchtime Session - April 14 12:00pm-1:00pm
• Flood After Fire Evening Session - April 20 5:30pm-6:30pm
• Wildfire Preparation & Recovery Evening Session - April 21 5:30pm-6:30pm

Ashes to Art Project to Benefit Volunteer Fire Departments After Historic 2020 Colorado Wildfires

Online auction May 10–15 features artwork containing wildfire charcoal

Artwork incorporating charcoal from the 2020 Colorado wildfires will be sold in an online auction to help fund the financially devastated local volunteer fire departments that worked to contain and extinguish the summer wildfires.

The 2021 Ashes to Art Project, co-founded in 2012 by Lori Joseph and Tim O’Hara after the High Park Fire, asked artists across the country to donate various forms of artwork including paintings, photography, textiles, woodworking, jewelry, sculptures and more to be sold in an online auction for charity.

All proceeds from this year’s auction will equally benefit the Colorado Poudre Canyon Fire Protection District and the Rist Canyon Volunteer Fire Department.

Online bidding will begin Monday, May 10 and continue through the week until Saturday, May 15 at 8 p.m. (MST). Items can be viewed and bid on at the Bidding for Good website.

Artwork from more than 80 artists from all 50 states will be represented. Work created by artists from Columbia, South America and Great Britain are also featured this year. There will be approximately 100 pieces of art for sale.

For more information, contact Lori Joseph or Tim O’Hara at the email and/or phone numbers listed below. You can also learn more at our Facebook page and our Instagram page.

About Ashes to Art
The Ashes to Art Project, founded in Fort Collins, Colorado in 2012, is a way for the creative community to support the local firefighters who worked to protect the homes, lives and families during the most devastating series of fires in Colorado history.

About the Fires
In 2020, fires raged across the state of Colorado, causing devastation never seen before in the state. Between the Cameron Peak, East Troublesome, Mullen and Pine Gulch fires, more than 700,000 acres burned across seven counties in Colorado. The Cameron Peak fire burned from August 13 until December 2, 2020 and covered 208,913 acres. The record-breaking 2020 wildfire season caused an immense amount of damage to homes and wild lands and required nationwide resources and support to control.

Lori Joseph, Co-Founder of Ashes to Art — 570-337-3010
Tim O'Hara, Co-Founder of Ashes to Art — 970-218-5155
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I just heard from neighbor Patty Hamilton at 7114 Stove Prairie Road (north of the school) that she and 2 other neighbors are still snowed in and their plow truck is broken/stuck. They are trying to find somebody local to plow them out, and are happy to pay.
You can reach Patty at 970-495-1771.

Her satellite internet is down, so call her or email me and I will be happy to be a go-between.

Dan Fink
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This morning at 9:00 our two white German Shepherds got out or their enclosure and chased a herd of deer east from our house at 228 Stratton Park Road going toward Lewstone. I could not catch up to them on snowshoes.

Their names are Kaiser and Czar and weigh about 100 pounds each. They probably will not come when they are called.

We can be reached at 970-472-1972. We are offering a $500 reward to anyone who helps us find them.

Clay Cox
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We are looking for a new situation for a Pyrenees mix- female, 3 years. She is very sweet and loves people, but she is an escape artist and we are constantly having to retrieve her from other properties. If anyone is interested, please send an email and we can provide more details.

Jacki Lawson
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Our sweet, loving, beautiful cat Clover needs a new home. Our 4 month old is allergic and we need to find a new home for a Clover as soon as possible. She is highly adaptable, mellow, snuggly, and a great mouser.
Does anybody have a place for the world’s sweetest kitty? Please message me if you do. Photos:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/PYJHTED1E35QSEQU8

Luke and Haley
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Hi Folks,

This just came to my attention: Larimer County State Extension is holding a free Radon Awareness Class on Zoom. Radon is a silent killer, and you never know what your results will show. Your home could be under 4.0 Pci/L, however, a neighbor could be higher.

Bonus: Larimer County Residents will receive a free Radon Test Kit. To sign up go to the Larimer Extension Health & Wellness Portal There are 3 choices for dates and times over the next month, so check it out and take advantage of this great resource!

Louise Creager
Stratton Park Rep

Our mini pig escaped from our barn yesterday morning. He is the size of a potbelly pig, about 150 pounds, and all white. He follows people for food like dog food or grain or even cereal like cheerios in case he is near a fenced area or garage, where he could be coaxed in.

Our address is 21520 Buckhorn Rd. Please call Kathy if you see him.

Thank you!

Kathy Kendall
970-472-0217

On Tuesday, January 5th at 7 pm Living Out Loud, a public affairs show on KRFC 88.9 FM Radio Fort Collins, will broadcast an encore show about the Rist Canyon Volunteer Fire Department and our many-faceted team. Our very own Juana Jackson will be featured on this program, interviewed by the host of Living Out Loud, Marjo Sullivan. Tune in and hear first-hand what it was like to be in the midst of one of our worst fire fighting seasons. Many of our “hometowns” were impacted, and Mother Nature and the weather often determined what could and couldn’t be saved.

Tune in... you’ll be happy, proud and grateful you did. You can also live-stream this broadcast from the KRFC website, but only at 7 pm Colorado time.