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Wildland Division

Firefighters extinguishing smoldering ground and tree roots in a forest during wildland fire mop-up operations.

In response to the high wildfire risk in southern Jefferson County Colorado, Elk Creek, Inter-Canyon, and North Fork Fire Protection Districts identified the need to proactively expand wildland fire mitigation and suppression efforts. Over recent years, the Wildland Division has provided specialized fire suppression resources, mobilized the public in fire prevention efforts, provided public education, conducted on site wildfire risk assessments, and designed landscape scale and targeted fuels reduction projects.

View the Story Map to Learn More
Download the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP)

About the Wildland Division

The primary mission of the Elk Creek Wildfire Suppression Module is to provide a safe, professional, mobile, and highly skilled resource for all phases of wildland fire operations. As a full service organization we will strive to go above and beyond expectations through hard work and commitment to excellence. As a group we will persevere.

Elk Creek Wildland Fire Module

The Elk Creek Wildland Fire Module is the main wildfire management and suppression arm of the Division. Established in 2017, an initial attack squad was formed to support the wildfire suppression capabilities in remote terrain and wildland-urban interface of the Elk Creek Fire District and cooperating agencies. Due to the local demand for specialized wildland crews, the organization quickly grew to the WFM it is today.

Wildland firefighting team posing together on a rocky mountain trail surrounded by trees.
Fire mitigation crew feeding logs into a wood chipper along a mountain road.

Elk Creek & Inter-Canyon Fuels Crew

Full scale fuels and project work started in 2017 for Elk Creek Fire District - however, in 2020 the decision was made to form a separate crew that could service both Inter-Canyon and Elk Creek Fire Protection Districts. This crew was established to meet the demands of reducing fuel and preparing for wildfire in one of the highest risk WUI (Wildland Urban Interface) communities in the country.

The Fuels Crew operates the public chipping program, conducts thinning and mastication projects, runs our fuels sampling program, and responds to local and mutual aid wildland fires.

The Wildfire Prepared Program

The Wildfire Prepared Home Assessment Program promotes wildfire awareness, education, and action for residents. Through the program, local residents can request a professional evaluation of the exterior of their home and surrounding property to determine their susceptibility to wildfire and to plan actions that can make their home more defensible.

Fire department personnel helping a homeowner install a reflective address sign in a wooded area.
Fire department representative teaching a safety class to community members indoors.

The Community Ambassador Program

Elk Creek and Conifer Fire started the Community Ambassador Program (CAP) in 2020. Community Ambassadors serve as volunteer liaisons between the Fire Protection Districts and residents, increasing awareness of wildfire risk and forest health issues in our area.

Ambassadors link residents to trusted information, community resources and help organize community mitigation projects to reduce wildfire risk around homes and in neighborhoods.

What the Wildland Division Does

The Conifer/Evergreen area has been ranked as one of the highest wildfire risk areas in the country. The module is specifically designed to suppress wildfires in this environment while supporting risk reduction and mitigation efforts.

The Module's typical fire season starts in May and runs through the end of October. A shorter crew is kept on throughout the winter in order to respond to all-hazard incidents and perform additional hazardous fuels reduction tasks within the district.

Firefighters conducting a controlled burn in a pine forest to reduce wildfire risk.

Fire Suppression

The primary responsibility of the Elk Creek Wildfire Suppression Module is to respond to wildland fires within the district and across the country.

While the module is primarily formed to function as one highly capable unit, the crew maintains flexibility to act as separate squads or engine modules.

Wildfire Mitigation & Watershed Restoration

When not assigned to wildland fire incidents, the module designs, implements, and monitors landscape scale hazardous fuels reduction projects in collaboration with multiple stakeholders in the area.

The module also facilitates the community chipping program for the district. This highly successful program supports homeowner's defensible space efforts by providing an efficient avenue for slash removal.

Wildland firefighter standing near a vintage red fire truck during a forest operation.
Swiftwater rescue team securing a red inflatable boat beside a partially submerged car.

All Hazards Support

Many of the crew members are trained in all-hazard and medical response. The module consistently supports the line staff on search and rescue and medical calls. Within the high risk wildland-urban interface environment, the module serves as an invaluable resource for the containment of structure fires in the area.

Meet the Division

In response to the high wildfire risk in southern Jefferson County Colorado, Elk Creek, Inter-Canyon, and North Fork Fire Protection Districts identified the need to proactively expand wildland fire mitigation and suppression efforts. Over recent years, the Wildland Division has provided specialized fire suppression resources, mobilized the public in fire prevention efforts, provided public education, conducted on site wildfire risk assessments, and designed landscape scale and targeted fuels reduction projects.

Firefighter holding a chainsaw among burned trees in a wildfire recovery zone.

Benjamin Yellin

Benjamin is the Wildland Captain at Elk Creek. He has suppression experience on federal crews and has a masters in regional planning, focusing on wildfire mitigation.

Firefighter wearing a red helmet with a helicopter performing an aerial water drop in the background.

John Mandl

John is the Inter-Canyon Wildland Captain and has 20+ years with the department.

Wildland firefighter carrying a chainsaw after working in a burned forest area.

Jayson Papenfus

Jayson is the Module and Fuels Officer. He has extensive wildland fire suppression and mitigation experience.

Wildland firefighter wearing safety gear and helmet standing in a smoky forest.

William Gage

Billy is the Suppression Module Foreman. He has significant wildfire suppression experience with multiple federal and state agencies.

Firefighter in yellow gear standing beside a large fallen tree in a forested area.

Ben Moses

Ben is the Conifer Fuels Crew lead. He has previous suppression and fuels experience with the Forest Service in Prescott, AZ

Smiling firefighter in yellow protective gear standing in a forest during wildfire operations.

Kelleigh McConnaughey

Kelleigh is the division Wildland Project Planner. She has a background in natural resource management, wildfire mitigation and suppression.

Wildland Division Planning

Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs) help communities assess local hazards and identify strategic investments to mitigate risk. In Spring of 2020, both Inter-Canyon and Elk Creek Fire Protection Districts (FPDs) recognized the need to update their CWPPs. At the same time, a potential consolidation of the districts (still in the process) and the creation of an Elk Creek and Inter-Canyon Wildfire Division was being discussed. In order to prioritize the limited resources of both districts, it was decided to move forward with the planning process together. This cross-boundary collaboration maximized limited resources while finding efficiencies within existing mitigation programs in both districts.

Emergency Go Bag
Rotary Wildfire Ready Brochure
Hardening Your Home
Rotary Wildfire Ready Brochure
Ready, Set, Go - Wildland Fire Action Guide
International Association of Fire Chiefs

See Below For More Information
About The Wildland Division

View the Story Map to Learn More
Download the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP)
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