CRYSTAL LAKES FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT

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Special Notices

Recent Email Notices

Crystal Lakes Volunteer Fire Department

January 9, 2022

Good afternoon!

I hope you’ve had an enjoyable week, despite the wind.

Winter in the Colorado mountains presents a variety of driving challenges. Depending on the weather, you might find yourself dealing with ice, snow, mud, or loose dirt/gravel, or may end up moving between several of these conditions during a trip. The following safety tips apply to all of these road conditions. Please keep them in mind!

Slow down. The thing ice, snow, mud, and loose dirt/gravel all have in common is that they make the driving surface unstable. In addition, circumstances may result in moving between these conditions, and each of them handles slightly differently. The one thing you can do that’ll be helpful on all four conditions is to slow down! You have a lot more control over what you’re doing when you take it easy. Anticipate when a change in speed may be necessary, plan ahead so you can change speed gradually, and always slow down when approaching corners.

Avoid sudden changes in direction, such as swerving to avoid objects or animals in the road. This can be particularly dangerous, especially if you’re going too fast for conditions. This applies whether we’re talking about a critter running into the road or merely making that next turn. Our roads are banked for optimal water runoff, not optimal safety in travel. This means that the forces working on your car as you round a corner may be pushing you off the roadway, rather than keeping you on it.

Accelerate and brake gently and reduce your speed when approaching corners, curves and hills. Always drive at a speed that allows you to stop easily for any hazard without slamming on the brakes. Your brakes will be less effective in all these road conditions, and it’ll likely take longer to stop than usual (and longer than you expect).

Increase following distance. Even if the visibility is good and the road is hard-packed, increase your following distance to reduce the necessity of stopping suddenly. Be considerate too. As you approach other vehicles, slow down and move to the right so you can pass each other safely. Many of our roads are lined with snowbanks, deep snow, or borrow ditches, all of which you want to stay out of, but driving in the middle of the road and running someone else off the road is not the solution.

If your vehicle starts to skid, let off on the accelerator or brakes. Do not overcorrect! As you slow down, look where you want to go and steer the vehicle gently in that direction. If your tires drop off the road on one side, do not jerk the wheel to try to get back on the road – this can cause you to roll the car. Slow down and steer back toward the road gradually to guide the tire back onto the road.

Also, please remember – we're in Colorado, it's winter, and Crystal Lakes is in the mountains. If you do not have four-wheel drive (and even if you do!), make sure you have chains with you and know how and when to put them on. Keep warm clothes in your car in case you get stuck, do not try to drive through snow drifts, and DO NOT leave your car if you get stuck. You’re far safer and easier to find in the car than outside in the elements.

The graphic below offers some additional winter driving tips to keep in mind.

Please be smart and be safe, thank you!

Marian Kelly

Assistant Chief

Crystal Lakes Volunteer Fire Department

Practice Wildfire Safety

People start most wildfires - find out how you can promote and practice wildfire safety.

Contact your local fire department, health department, or forestry office for information on fire laws.
Make sure that fire vehicles can get to your home. Clearly mark all driveway entrances and display your name and address.
Report hazardous conditions that could cause a wildfire.
Teach children about fire safety. Keep matches out of their reach.
Post fire emergency telephone numbers.
Ensure adequate accessibility by large fire vehicles to your property.
Plan several escape routes away from your home - by car and by foot.
Talk to your neighbors about wildfire safety. Plan how the neighborhood could work together after a wildfire. Make a list of your neighbors' skills such as medical or technical. Consider how you could help neighbors who have special needs such as elderly or disabled persons. Make plans to take care of children who may be on their own if parents can't get home.

For more information on wildfire safety, visit the U.S. Fire Administration's website.

IN AN EMERGENCY

CALL 9-1-1 FOR ASSISTANCE

Warning Sirens

For the safety of the community, Crystal Lakes Associations has evacuations sirens posted throughout the Association. The evacuation siren in case of failure of the dam is located near the Wapiti Mailsheds to cover the floodplain area and sounds like this whoop sound:

whoop.mp3
MP3 audio file [163.5 KB]

Property owners in the floodplain should evacuate immediately if they hear this siren; all other property owners should remain on their lots, to keep the roads clear for those evacuating the floodplain. Sirens in ALL parts of the association will sound the fire evacuation siren if a wildfire threatens the community -- it sounds like this alert sound:

Alert.mp3
MP3 audio file [168.6 KB]

ALL property owners should evacuate IMMEDIATELY if they hear this siren. Emergency personnel will be on hand to help direct evacuating property owners out of the area.

Where to Find Us:

Crystal Lakes Fire Protection District (CLFPD)

237 Blackfoot Road

Red Feather Lakes, CO 80545

970-881-3521 (Phone)

970-881-2085 (Fax)

clvfd@clvfd.org

Crystal Lakes Volunteer Fire Department (CLVPD)

237 Blackfoot Road

Red Feather Lakes, CO 80545

970-881-3521 (Phone)

970-881-2085 (Fax)

clvfd@clvfd.org

Click here for a map.

How to Contact Us

For more information, feel free to contact us by telephone, email, or by using our contact form. We look forward to hearing from you!

CL FIRES

CL FIRES is dedicated to education, planning, and support in the areas of fire prevention and safety, wildland fire mitigation, and personal safety in the greater Crystal Lakes Community of Larimer County, Colorado.

Click here to join.

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