FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Three Colorado individuals were cited by national organizations for the 2017 Wildfire Mitigation Award, recognizing wildfire mitigation innovation and leadership.
The awards are presented by a committee formed by the National Association of State Foresters (NASF), International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and U.S. Forest Service (USFS).
Colorado recipients are:
- Rebecca Samulski — assistant director of Firewise of Southwest Colorado and Dolores Watershed and Resilient Forest (DWaRF) coordinator
- Jim Tencza — neighborhood Firewise ambassador for Timberdale Ranch, Firewise of Southwest Colorado, Bayfield, Colo.
- John T. Mele — deputy chief of fire prevention/fire marshal, Snowmass Wildcat Fire Protection District, Snowmass Village, Colo.
“As Americans live with the threat of catastrophic wildfire, it is increasingly important for wildland-urban interface communities to identify and mitigate wildfire risks,” said Bill Crapser, Wyoming state forester and president of NASF.
The awards will be presented at the IAFC’s Wildland-Urban Interface Conference in Reno, Nev. on March 22.