Colorado Springs Fire Department signs into Colorado Firefighter Trust

VIDEO: Colorado Springs firefighters will not have to pay out-of-pocket expenses for medical treatment related to certain kinds of cancer, heart disease, and behavioral health issues. On Wednesday afternoon, Mayor Yemi Mobolade signed into the Colorado Firefighter Trust, allowing firefighters to get their medical expenses compensated without having to fight for workman's compensation. "Our firefighters have a 9% greater chance of being diagnosed with cancer, a 40% greater chance of dying from cancer," Mayor Yemi Mobolade said. "These first responders risk themselves for the greater good, and the last thing they should do is worry about when they face work-related heart, cancer, or behavioral health issues and how to pay for those out-of-pocket medical expenses."
KRDO-TV ABC 13 Colorado Springs

Cattle in new Douglas County planned community protects residents from wildfires, preserves land

VIDEO: A small calf grazing in a pasture is just one of Sterling Ranch's newest 179 residents. They're both a mascot for the community and serve an important role. "Cattle and wildlife and living with nature are just part of the experience of Sterling Ranch," said Harold Smethills, founder and owner of Sterling Ranch. The master-planned community already has nearly 7,000 residents. And its near-3,500 acres are currently only 18% built out. "We'll be building for the next 20 years," said Smethills. But as development continues, about two square miles of open space are being preserved and used for cattle to roam. "Hundreds of years ago, buffalo came through here and their hooves aerated the soil, fertilized the land and grazed it so it would grow. Well, we don't have buffalo anymore; we have cattle, and they do that exact thing," said Smethills.
CBS News Colorado

Residents near mobile home park west of Durango under pre-evacuation notice due to reported fire

Residents of a mobile park west of Durango were put under a pre-evacuation notice Tuesday afternoon after reports of a small fire sparked concerns among fire officials that it could spread quickly due to strong winds in the area. The fire, which is currently estimated at about three acres in size, was reported near the Lightner Creek Mobile Home Park west of Durango. Fire officials with the Durango Fire Protection District were responding, according to a news release. Though reportedly small in size, “high winds give the fire a high potential to spread quickly,” a La Plata County spokesperson said in an email. Due to the potential of quick fire spread, residents of the park, which include approximately 85 homes, were put on a pre-evacuation notice.
KMGH-TV ABC 7 Denver

Emergency crews extinguish Erie home fire

Emergency crews quickly extinguished an electric fire in the attic of a home in Erie around 10:15 a.m. Tuesday. Mountain View Fire Rescue units responded to a report of a structure fire in the 400 block of Holbrook Street, according to a fire department Facebook post. No one was injured in the incident, according to the post. The carbon monoxide alarm went off in the house at some point Monday night, said Rick Tillery, Mountain View Fire Rescue spokesman. Residents replaced the batteries and the alarm didn’t make a sound again. “One thing we want to stress is that if any type of alarm goes off, call the fire department,” said Tillery. “It’s not an expense to have us come out to your residence.” Responding agencies included Mountain View Fire Rescue, Lafayette Fire and the Erie Police Department.
Colorado Hometown Weekly