Colorado pushes to stop relying on rented aircraft to fight wildfires

BY JESSE PAUL THE COLORADO SUN

Colorado is doubling down on its push to rely less on rented aircraft to ght wild res with the purchase of a second helicopter capable of quickly crisscrossing the state to detect and douse ames.

Gov. Jared Polis signed a bill on May 11 allocating $26 million to buy another “Firehawk,” a converted version of the military’s ubiquitous Black Hawk helicopter. e Firehawk’s top speed is about 160 mph and it can quickly slurp up and drop 1,000 gallons of water.

When res aren’t burning, the helicopter can be deployed on search and rescue missions.

Right now, Colorado has no operational, state-owned aircraft that can drop water and retardant on res. Instead, it relies on contracts with private aerial re ghting companies to respond to blazes across the state.

Some of those air resources are pooled regionally, meaning that the rented helicopters and airplanes serve multiple states at the same time.

“I quit track so I could focus more on soccer,” Balcazar said. “Wrestling is more my specialty. It’s more my type of thing. It’s a 1-v-1. If you

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PHOTO BY HECTOR LOPEZ

pionship in 2022. She took fourth place among 105-pounders at this

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But that’s become an issue as climate change causes dangerously dry conditions across the Western U.S. In 2020, for instance, when Colorado had the three largest wild res in its history, the state struggled to secure the aircraft it needed because there were also res burning in New Mexico, California and several other states.

“We need to be able to control our

Fort Lupton Rec Center hosts lifeguard sessions

Don’t miss out on lifeguard training May 30 - June 3! Are you 15 years old or older and looking for a great part-time job with exible hours or a challenging career? American Red Cross Lifeguarding is the best place to start! Lifeguarding puts you in an exciting position, working as part of a team to help people safely enjoy the water. You must attend every class to receive the American Red Cross certi cation. Call 303-857-4200 x6164 or email dcook@fortluptonco.gov for registration.

Sign Up Early - Space is limited!

Sports camps open registrations e program is o ering camps for basketball, ag football, pickleball, soccer and volleyball for kids six years old through -12 and mini-camp for kids four-to-six-years old that combines baseball, basketball and soccer. Skyhawks provides a non-competitive environment to teach sports to kids ages 4 to 14. Our goal is to give each child a positive introduction into sports and ensure they walk away with a smile on their face wanting to learn more. Since 1979, Skyhawks has taught over two million boys and girls life skills through sports.

Registration for Skyhawks summer sports camps in Fort Lupton are open now.

Register at skyhawks.fun/fortlupton.

Mays Memorial Fore Youth Benefit Golf Tournament June 9 e annual Jacobs Jon Mays Memorial Golf Tournament returns to Coyote Creek Golf Course June 9 to bene t local youth. e tournament is a four-person scramble. After an 8 a.m. start, golfers will enjoy 18 holes with fun games and contests. ere’s also a pre-round breakfast, post-event lunch and prizes.

Individual registration is $140 per player and $455 per team. Registration includes green fees, cart and lunch. Sponsorships are available at a variety of price points, and include bene ts like tee-box advertising, team registration, promotional opportunities and more.

To register for the tournament and view a complete list of sponsorship opportunities, visit www.golfgenius.com/ggid/jmay23. If you can’t participate in the tournament, but want to lend your support, consider a monetary donation or an item for our ra e.

South Platte Historical Society is hosting summer at the Independence one-room school.

Children can have fun experiencing pioneer living.

2001 Historic Parkway, Fort Lupton, CO

Session #1 June 5-7

Session #2 June 12-14

Session #3 June 19-20

Go to www.spvhs and click Annual Events, Independent School for Flyer and Registration Form or contact LaVon lwatson@spvhs.org LaVon Watson 720-273-3609

Splash pad e city of Fort Lupton is searching for comments about and sponsorships for a new splash pad.

Sponsor funds will be used for the splash park and amenities. Call 303-857-6694

Donation time e Fort Lupton Food & Clothing Bank is asking for donations of canned fruits and nuts, varieties of dry pasta and pasta dinners, peanut butter and canned meat such as tuna (including the pouches).

Other potential donations could include chicken, Vienna sausages, spam and salmon. e bank also needs personal items, such as toiletries and baby needs.

Drop o donations at the food and clothing bank’s back door, 421 Denver Ave., weekdays between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Call 303-8571096.

Walk with a doc is is a walking program for everyone interested in taking steps for a healthier lifestyle. After a few minutes to learn about a current health topic from the doctor, spend the rest of the hour enjoying a healthy walk and fun talk.

Platte Valley Medical Center’s cardiac rehab team and Walk With A Doc will host monthly walks with Dr. Christopher Cannon, an interventional cardiologist at Brighton Heart and Vascular Institute.

Blessings in a Bag

Fort Lupton’s Backpack Program helps school children in need with a backpack of healthy food. It’s an allvolunteer program and is in need of volunteers. If interested in volunteering or donating, call 303-718-4440. Mail donations to Blessings in a Bag, 306 Park Ave., Fort Lupton 80621.

Drop-in child care e Fort Lupton Recreation Center o ers drop-in child care from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and ursdays. Call 303857-4200.

Fort Lupton senior lunches

Senior lunches are available at noon Mondays at the Fort Lupton Recreation Center, 203 S. Harrison Ave. Sign up by noon the previous ursday. Call 303-857-4200, ext. 6166.

Co ee group

Fort Lupton’s weekly co ee group sessions are at 8 a.m. Wednesdays. Call 303-857-4200.

Silver Sneakers

Silver Sneaker Yoga is available Fridays from 9 to 9:45 a.m. and from 10 to 10:45 a.m. at the Fort Lupton recreation Center, 203 S. Harrison Ave.

Water aerobics e city’s water aerobics class meets from 6 to 6:45 p.m. Tuesdays and ursdays at the Fort Lupton Recreation Center, 203 S. Harrison Ave. Call 303-857-4200.

Pen pals

Fort Lupton’s senior pen pal program through Twombly Elementary School is looking for participants. Learn more at: https://www.fortluptonco.gov/950/Senior-Pen-PalProgram.

Craft classes

Monthly craft classes through the Fort Lupton Recreation Center (203 S. Harrison Ave.) are available. Call 303857-4200, ext. 6166 with questions.

Free short-term radon test kits

Weld County residents can receive a free radon test kit (one per household, while supplies last). Test kits can be requested online at www. drhomeair.com/weld, according to a statement.

Call the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment at (970) 400-2226 or visit: www.weldgov. com/go/radon.

Warm line up and running Community Reach Center is o ering a warm line (303-280-6602) for those who want to talk to mentalhealth professionals about anxiety, lack of sleep and strained relationships, among other topics. e professionals can facilitate referrals to other programs for assistance. e line is not for crisis intervention. ose feeling unsafe or suicidal should call Colorado Crisis Services (1-844-493-8255) or text 38255 or visit the Behavioral Urgent Care Center, 2551 W. 84th Ave., Westminster. Brighton’s community intake location is at 1850 E. Egbert St., on the second oor. It’s open from 8 a.m. to noon Tuesdays.

Alcoholics Anonymous e Brighton chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous meets at 147 S. Second Place. Meeting times are 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sundays, noon and 7:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 6 p.m. ursdays and 9 p.m. Fridays. Call 303-659-9953 or visit www. brighton1aa.org.