Fruita Fire Mitigation Project Begins July 31, 2023

The Lower Valley Fire District, along with the City of Fruita, in collaboration with the Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management, would like to inform the community of a fire mitigation project that is starting on July 31, 2023, along the City of Fruita bike trail that follows the Little Salt Wash. The community can expect to see and hear crews working in the Creekside Subdivision from North Mesa Street to North Maple, cutting and removing vegetation. The Fruita bike trail will be closed in this area during the project.

Lower Valley Fire District received funds through a grant from the Bureau of Land Management Fuels Management and Community Fire Assistance Program. Mitigation and treatment work is being done by Alpine Tree Service. Alpine Tree Services will be thinning trees to reduce continuous fuels and remove invasive species. The total treatment area is approximately three acres.

This fire mitigation project is part of the Lower Valley Fire District and the City of Fruita’s larger efforts to reduce the risk of fire along the Little Salt Wash and Big Salt Washes in Fruita. This will be the 6th year of fire mitigation, with a total of 24 acres of fuel treated since this work began. Both entities would like to inform those that live around the Big and Little Salt Washes not to displace their yard clippings and tree limbs along the banks or bottoms of these washes. With the help of private landowners and Homeowner Associations, we can reduce the chances of a large-scale fire developing.

If you have questions or concerns contact Lower Valley Fire District at (970)858-3133.

No Thoroughfare Trail Wildfire Mitigation

The week of October 10-14, 2022 teams from the City of Grand Junction Fire Department, Parks Department, and Project Team will be working along a section of No Thoroughfare Trail to reduce the risk of wildfire in the area. The trail will be temporarily closed during this time, with a map of the suggested pedestrian and bike detour below.

This will involve thinning invasive plants and removing dead and down trees to improve the health of the urban forest and reduce the risk of high-intensity fire near homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure. The crews will be using chainsaws and chippers to accomplish this goal, while being mindful of preserving habitat for animals in the area.

Fire Chief Ken Watkins said, "This is our first proactive wildfire mitigation project as a department. We're proud of our City crews working together to protect the community while improving the health of our urban forests and the experience of our trails."

“We’re happy to join this effort to promote the health of the urban tree canopy and to reduce wildfire risk”, said Parks and Rec. director Ken Sherbenou. “It is a proactive step to help ensure our public open spaces that are so critical to our quality life are safe and well managed.”

For more information on this project contact Grand Junction Fire Department Community Outreach Office at 970-549-5800 or by email at GJFirePIO@gjcity.org.

Riverfront Collaborative Mitigation Projects Beginning Spring 2022

Update: 5/17/2023 SWIFT Crews will continue working over the next couple of weeks in the area of Connected Lakes to complete this grant. If you live in the area expect to hear and see crews with chainsaws and chippers. MESA COUNTY

Through the collaboration of Two Rivers Wildfire Coalition, local agencies are teaming up to tackle wildfire fuels reduction along the river in Grand Junction. Colorado Parks and Wildlife recently received a Colorado Strategic Wildfire Action Program grant (CoSWAP) to conduct wildfire fuel reduction along the riverfront.

Working together with the Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Colorado State Forest Service, the City of Grand Junction, the State Wildland Inmate Fire Team, and private landowners, nearly 62 acres will be treated across land ownership boundaries. It is estimated that these projects will protect approximately 340 homes, and 21 businesses.

The project will have four main areas including land within and adjoining Connected Lakes State Park, Letha Jean State Wildlife Area, and Walter Walker State Wildlife Area. Work will begin in the area of Indian Wash, and it is expected that crews will work throughout the spring and in the fall on the different project areas.

For more information on these projects, contact Pete Firmin at Pete.Firmin@state.co.us.