Sticker shock is real. We don’t have to tell you that- prices are up everywhere. You see it at the grocery store, when you pay for repairs or when it’s time to replace a vehicle. West Metro is seeing it, too. In 2018, West Metro paid $633,267 for a fire engine like this one. Today, a comparable new engine costs $1,384,099. That’s nearly a 119% increase in nine years. When we buy an engine, we get a lot of use out of it. At West Metro, an engine typically spends 20 years in front-line service, assigned to a station and responding to calls every day, followed by another five years as a reserve. That’s 25 years responding to fires, medical emergencies, crashes, rescues, and other calls for help. But eventually, every engine reaches the end of its service life. And when you consider rising prices across an entire fleet- not just fire engines, but ambulances and other emergency vehicles- the costs add up quickly. That’s why we want our community to understand what it costs to provide emergency services, how long we use the equipment we purchase, and how much those costs have changed.

Eleven days ago, this ground was black. Today, it's turning green. Fresh grass is already pushing through the burned areas at Bear Creek Lake Park, where we conducted prescribed fire operations on October 12. It's a great example of how fire can play a positive role in a healthy ecosystem. Prescribed burns help remove dead vegetation, reduce wildfire risk and return nutrients to the soil, creating conditions for new growth. And with a little help from recent rain, the landscape is already bouncing back. Sometimes, the best way to understand the benefits of prescribed fire is to watch what happens afterward.

Could something in your home be putting you and your family at risk? From kitchen appliances to heated blankets, several products are raising serious safety concerns, including fire hazards, overheating and burns. We've rounded up some of the latest product safety alerts for October. Take a minute to watch, check what you have at home, and share this with someone who might have one of these products. A quick check now could prevent an emergency later. For more information on product recalls, visit cpsc.gov/recalls.

This truck is built for fighting wildfires. It's one of the most frequently used vehicles in West Metro's wildland fleet. Smaller and more maneuverable than a traditional fire engine, a Type 6 brush truck is designed to quickly access grass fires, navigate narrow roads and trails, and help protect homes threatened by wildfire. In 2021, West Metro purchased one for $219,543. Today, that same truck costs $306,000-an increase of nearly 40% in just four years. At the same time, wildfire remains one of the biggest concerns we hear from our community. Residents consistently tell us they want firefighters to have the equipment and training needed to respond when the next wildfire threatens homes and neighborhoods. Providing that level of protection means investing in specialized apparatus like this brush truck. As the cost of those vehicles continues to climb, so does the cost of maintaining the level of service our community expects.

Nearly $50,000. That's what it costs to train and equip a single West Metro firefighter/paramedic before they respond to their first emergency. That investment includes specialized training, protective gear, medical equipment, and the tools needed to serve our community safely and effectively. Like everything else, the cost of emergency response continues to rise. But when you call 911, you expect firefighters and paramedics to arrive ready for whatever they're facing. Readiness is an investment. And it's one our community depends on every day.

What difference can five feet make during a wildfire? A pretty big one. We saw it firsthand during our live-fire demonstration with the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS). Two buildings. Same fire. One burned. The other didn't. The difference? Science-based wildfire mitigation, including nothing combustible within the first five feet. Take a look around your home. Mulch, plants, firewood, a wood fence, and other things that burn can give fire a path right to your house. Five feet. Start there. For more information on home wildfire mitigation: bit.ly/westmetroreadysetgo

Bear Creek Prescribed Burn- Final update: Mop up operations are complete, but you may still see smoke in Bear Creek Lake Park over the next few days. And that's not unusual after a prescribed fire. Even after crews finish burning and complete mop-up, logs, roots and other vegetation well inside the burned area can continue to smolder and produce smoke. That's normal fire behavior. West Metro crews will continue patrolling the area, checking for hot spots and making sure the fire stays within its containment lines. A big thank you to our partners at @SouthMetroPIO, @GoldenCOFire, Jefferson County Wildland, Jefferson County Parks & Open Space, Bear Creek Lake Park Rangers, and the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control for the teamwork that made today's operations a success.

Bear Creek Lake Park prescribed fire update – 5:30 PM: The firing is complete and now crews are working on mop-up. Firefighters are checking for hot spots and making sure everything within 50 feet of the fire’s perimeter is cold (extinguished). Part of mop-up icludes something called "cold trailing". Firefighters slowly work along the edge of the burned area, feeling the ground and burned material with their ungloved hands to find hot spots that may still be smoldering, even when there's no visible smoke or flame. If they find any remaining heat, they extinguish it so it can't reignite and cause the fire to move outside of the containment line. Mop-up is slow painstaking work- but one of the most important parts of a prescribed fire.

Here is the map with burn units marked for today’s prescribed fire.

Bear Creek Lake Park prescribed fire update – 3:45 PM: Firefighters have completed burning the second unit, and have now moved to the third and final unit. The unit- which is unit 2B on the map- is approximately 19 acres. You will continue to see smoke as firefighters complete firing operations for the day.

Prescribed fire update- 1 pm: Firefighters have completed burning operations in unit 2A, and are now moving into the unit furthest east from the Bear Creek Lake Park Visitor Center- which is 2C. This is the largest unit we will be burning today. It is 57 acres, so you will see more smoke as operations continue this afternoon.

There's a lot more to a prescribed fire than putting flames on the ground. And at Bear Creek Lake Park, every crew has a specific job. As fire moves through the vegetation, firefighters are watching how quickly it spreads, how intensely it burns and how changing weather conditions affect its behavior. Here's how the operation works: Lookouts: Positioned at high points with a view of the entire burn area, they're constantly watching the fire and weather, communicating any changes to crews on the ground. Firing crews: Using drip torches, they carefully ignite vegetation within the designated burn area. Holding crews: Their job is to keep the fire inside the containment lines, using water from fire engines to control the flames along the perimeter. In the video you can see a holding crew laying down a wet line as firefighters light the vegetation on the other side.   Water supply: West Metro's Tender 6 is on scene with 2,000 gallons of water. Crews have also set up a pump at Big Soda Lake to fill portable water tanks and keep fire engines supplied. Mop-up crews: As burning is completed, they move in to find and extinguish hot spots, making sure the fire stays within its boundaries. It's a carefully coordinated operation, with crews working together to accomplish the goal- reducing vegetation that could fuel a future wildfire. And it's valuable hands-on training, giving firefighters experience managing live fire under controlled conditions. The goal isn't just to burn vegetation. It's to put fire on the ground safely, keep it where we want it and reduce wildfire risk down the road.

Prescribed fire operations at Bear Creek Lake Park are a go. Firefighters just completed a test burn- which gave crews insight to see how fire will behave under current conditions- how quickly it will spread, how intensely the vegetation will burn and how expected wind conditions will affect the flames. It's an important safety check. If fire isn't behaving as planned, crews can adjust after the test burn.  Today- the test burn performed as expected- now crews will begin lighting the first of three sections closest to the Park’s Visitor Center.

Before any fire goes on the ground, there's a plan. This morning, firefighters from West Metro and several neighboring agencies are getting their assignments and reviewing the plan for today's prescribed fire at Bear Creek Lake Park. Crews are going over weather conditions, safety procedures, burn boundaries and individual responsibilities before operations begin. The burn is scheduled to start around 10 a.m.- if weather and vegetation conditions are right. Firefighters will be working on a 118 acre area east of the park's Visitor Center. The goal is to reduce vegetation that could fuel a wildfire, improve habitat for native plants and wildlife, and provide valuable hands-on training. Smoke may be visible throughout the day, especially near C-470 and Highway 285. We'll keep you updated as the burn progresses.

If you're near Bear Creek Lake Park on Monday, October 12, you may see smoke. That's because West Metro is planning a prescribed fire, weather permitting. So, what exactly is prescribed fire? That's the topic of this edition of “Learn the Lingo.” It's using fire under controlled conditions to burn off vegetation that could fuel a wildfire. West Metro Lt. Mike Worcester explains how it works and why it's an important tool for reducing wildfire risk.

Prescribed Fire Operations Set for Monday at Bear Creek Lake Park West Metro Fire Rescue, working with the City of Lakewood and Bear Creek Lake Park, plans to conduct prescribed fire operations at the park on Monday, October 12, beginning around 10 am. The operations are dependent on weather and fuel (vegetation) conditions and will center on three predetermined burn “units” totaling about 118 acres to the east of the park’s Visitor Center. West Metro crews, with the assistance of firefighters from several agencies, will work throughout the day to conduct the burns, monitor fire behavior, and ensure that the fire remains within the designated areas. Prescribed fire operations at Bear Creek Lake Park are designed to reduce wildfire risk, improve habitat for native plants and wildlife, and provide firefighters with valuable hands-on training in live fire conditions. Smoke Visibility and Health Precautions Smoke will likely be highly visible, particularly to neighborhoods near C-470 and Highway 285. People who live nearby may experience smoke and temporary impacts to air quality. Residents can help reduce exposure by: · Closing windows and doors · Staying indoors when smoke is present · Avoiding strenuous outdoor activity Older adults, young children and people with preexisting respiratory or circulatory conditions should take extra precautions. More information about smoke and health is available through the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment: colorado.gov/cdphe/wood-smok… Public Safety is Priority While operations are planned for Monday, the decision to ignite will be made based on conditions that day. Prescribed fire requires a specific combination of weather, wind and vegetation moisture levels to be conducted safely. Firefighters will closely evaluate those factors before ignition and monitor conditions throughout the operation.

Take a look around your house. How many things do you see that run on a lithium-ion battery? Phones. Laptops. E-bikes. Power tools. They’re part of everyday life- but if a battery is damaged, overheated or charged incorrectly, it can start a fire. So, we’re kicking off Fire Prevention Week with a few things you should know about battery safety. - Check your batteries - Use the right charger - Don’t charge them where they can block your way out - And if a battery is swollen, damaged or getting unusually hot- stop using it. Watch the video, then take a few minutes to check the batteries and chargers in your home. #westmetrofirerescue

There’s more to firefighter training than fighting fire. At West Metro's Fire Academy, recruits also spend time behind the wheel, learning to safely maneuver the ambulances and brush trucks they’ll drive on the job. That means tight turns, backing, navigating obstacles and getting a feel for how these larger vehicles handle- before they’re responding to an actual emergency. There are 34 recruits in this academy - 27 from West Metro, three from Arvada and four from Castle Rock- all working through the same training together. Because getting there safely is part of the job, too.

WMFR on scene of a structure fire in an apartment building in the 7200 block of W. Center Ave. in Belmar. Fire started in a ground floor unit- crews saw heavy smoke on arrival. Sprinklers were activated, fire contained to room of origin, no structural damage. One person transported to hospital, firefighters rescued two dogs. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Colorado Task Force 1 is back from deployment to Hawaii.