GOLDEN GATE CANYON — The Golden Gate Canyon Fire Protection District sponsored a community day on May 9, offering wildfire safety education including home protection, evacuation preparedness, and live fire mitigation demos.

Attendees also learned about community wildfire plans and could pick up green address signs worth up to $20. The signs help firefighters locate homes faster during emergencies.

The event was free and open to all ages.

The open house was at Fire Station 81, 32360 Robinson Hill Road. The fire truck had been moved out, so tables were placed along the wall.

Naomie Mata and Drew Kenyon had a table offering CPR classes at the Golden Gate Open House.

Photo by John Scarffe

Board President Deb Curlee and Vice President Marith Reheis held down the table for the auxiliary. They had a poster that showed all the things the auxiliary provided, including gloves, tools, equipment, and the greatest and latest, a chipper for the district.

Kari Sever had a table for assessments, and Terri Costeldia manned the address table. She would create one sign for the bottom of a driveway and one for the house.

Naomie Mata and Drew Kenyon had a table offering CPR classes. Mata said it takes 16 minutes for emergency staff to make it to a site, so they are hoping to find first responders who can help before emergency staff can get there.

Terri Costeldia operated the address table. She made two signs: one for the bottom of a driveway and one for the house.

Photo by John Scarffe

They will be offering courses in June and October.

The Golden Gate Auxiliary was formed to raise funds to support the volunteer firefighters of the Golden Gate Fire Protection District. Their mission is to provide the volunteer firefighters with equipment, training, and supplies that are not in the budget of the Golden Gate Fire Protection District.

Donations will help support their mission. Golden Gate Auxiliary is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, which means that donations may be eligible for a tax deduction.

Donations can made online or via check (mailed to GGAC, PO Box 17623, Golden, CO 80402).

The Golden Gate Fire Protection District serves approximately 1,200 residents at an estimated 450 addresses. The district covers nearly 50 square miles and includes the following recreation areas: Golden Gate Canyon State Park, Centennial Cone Open Space Park, White Ranch Open Space Park, Mount Galbraith Open Space Park, and Colorado Department of Wildlife lands.

The department is all-volunteer with the exception of the paid part-time Fire Chief and administration employee.

The Golden Gate Fire department operates out of three stations ,with twelve pieces of apparatus.

The boundaries of their coverage area: to the north is Coal Creek Canyon Fire Protection District, to the west is the Gilpin County, to the south is Clear Creek Canyon, and to the east is Colorado Highway 93.

Station 81, located near Centennial Cone Open Space, primarily serves the western edge of the district.

Jefferson County Sheriff had a table at the Golden Gate Open House on Saturday.

Photo by John Scarffe

For more information, go to goldengatefire.colorado.gov. The Auxiliary welcomes new members at any time.  For more information about the Auxiliary, or ways to help the Golden Gate Fire Protection District, please contact Suzan Dentry, Vice President, at 303-886-9802, or email mizsuzan@msn.com.