From leading the Fire Mitigation Advisory Committee in Green Mountain Falls to cofounding a nonprofit organization, David Douglas is expanding the mitigation reach to Chipita Park, Cascade and Crystola.

With FORGE Ute Pass (Forest Outreach Resiliency Grassroots Education), Douglas, with his wife and co-founder Lamar Mathews, envisions a collective response to wildfire protection.

In the meantime, Southern Colorado is engulfed in flames, with multiple fires burning at once, the worst of which is the Aspen Acres Fire.

For Douglas and Mathews, the fires act as a news flash about a cooperative approach to fire mitigation.  

“If we look at it selfishly, we’re upslope from Chipita Park and Cascade and if they catch on fire, we’re next,” Douglas said. “So, it’s really self-preservation but we’re all in this together.”

For skeptics who express concerns about the potential for a nonprofit to divide limited resources from one to many, Douglas disagrees.

“The whole purpose of this is collaboration and coordination of Ute Pass,” Douglas said. “If anything, this organization will bring more resources, not less.”

In some ways, the couple’s idea to launch a nonprofit was a response to Colorado’s Wildlife Resiliency Code for structures planned or existing in wildlife-urban interface areas.  

“This codifies all the things we should do for best practices; now it’s a must-do,” he said.

The code affects homes in Green Mountain Falls, most of which are adjacent to Pike National Forest. 

“I think insurance companies will be even more strict now that we have it codified,” Douglas said. “Now we have people really focused on mitigation up here, yet they don’t know who to call or where to turn.”

But a 501c(3) organization can apply for grants in the name of the town of Green Mountain Falls. If successful, the organization would share the funds for mitigation projects in Ute Pass, Douglas said.

“Our objective is to help our neighbors in Ute Pass who may have limitations in their ability to accomplish compliance with the new Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code,” Douglas said.

Lamar speaks of photos she has seen of homes in Beulah, some surrounded by trees, burned to the ground. 

“Many times, if the house catches on fire it ignites other houses,” she said. “The perimeter you build around your house is so important.”

Douglas and Mathews are planning an information session about FORGE Ute Pass, the time and date to be announced. For information, check ForgeUtePass.org or email info@forgeutepass.org.