Issues
Firefighter Health
Kathleen believes the providing/funding the best available resources to support Elk Creek personnel's physical and mental health is important. A healthy team is a strong team! Firefighters have an increased risk of cancer, heart disease, respiratory disease, and brain disease.
5 Long-Term Health Risks for Firefighters
Firefighter Mental Health and Well Being from the 2023 Firefighter Summit
Studies have shown that firefighters have more than their fair share of struggles with PTSD due to their exposure to difficult calls, stressful situations, and tragic outcomes.
Why Mental Health Resources Are Critical for Firefighters
usfa-2023-fact-sheet-firefighter-mental-health-well-being.pdf
A Million Papercuts: A Conversation about Firefighter Mental Health
Wildfire Mitigation
Living in the wildland urban interface is challenging. We are all surrounded by trees - living and dead/downed as a result of beetle kill and other ignition sources. More and more people are moving to the Conifer area to get away from the congestion of the Denver Metro Area. Others come up from the cities on the weekends to recreate in our forests.
JeffCo has a greater wildfire likelihood than 97% of the counties in the US. Park County has a greater wildfire likelihood thatn 84% of the counties in the US. (Source: wildfirerisk.org)
Jefferson County Wildfire Risk
As a Board member, Kathleen will support Conifer's Wildland Division's efforts and work with the community's input in making our community wildfire "resistant":
Conifer Wildland Division 2025 Chipping Program Details
Wildfire Prepared Home Assessments
Unification
Why Unify?
Unification allows the 3 firefighting districts to do more with less, to pool the resources available, to maximize access to grants, to be more attractive for new hires, and provide more oppotunities for advancement within the unified district.
The districts commissioned a study in 2021: Cooperative Services Feasibility Study.
This study was funded by the 3 districts and conducted by an outside consulting firm. At the time merging the 3 districts was considered, based on the assessed values of homes in the area at the time, a mill levy increase was necessary to support the merger. By law, mill levy increases must be decided by the voters. Now, with the dramatic increases in the actual home values in the area, a 12 mill levy for the benefit of the unified fire district is sufficient to support the current financial needs of the united fire district.
The majority of career & volunteer firefighters support unification. The majority of the population who voted for consolidation in the 3 districts supported consolidation.
As a board member, Kathleen will continue to work towards unification as this is what is necessary to provide the best level of service for this community.