Photo: Worker “exercising” a fire hydrant.
As mentioned in Part One, Archuleta County Sheriff Mike Le Roux wanted to make it clear to the gathered election officials — Pagosa Springs Town Council members and Archuleta County commissioners — that he had not endorsed or signed any MOU related to testing fire hydrants within the Pagosa Fire Protection District.
A story in the weekly Pagosa Springs SUN had inferred that Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation District (PAWSD) was developing a joint Memorandum Of Understanding that would involve services contributed by the Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) staff.
Sheriff Le Roux was clarifying his responsibilities and expectations at the joint meeting on Monday, March 24.
Reportedly, it has been over ten years since the community had a hydrant testing program in place. The previous program had been a collaboration between PAWSD and the Fire District, but was cancelled after the program caused unnecessary damage to some PAWSD water lines.
No subsequent program was developed to address hydrant testing, and this lack of regular assessments was brought up by PAWSD Board member Alex Boehmer back in December, as we waited for the snow that didn’t come, and as terrible wildfires in Los Angeles and elsewhere played out in the media.
Mr. Boehmer had himself been part of the hydrant testing program, back when he was a student at Pagosa Springs High School. He was also in the audience at the March 24 joint meeting.
Seated at the presenter’s table with Sheriff Le Roux, we find PAWSD District Manager Justin Ramsey, fielding questions from the elected leaders. Mr. Ramsey stated that a plan for regular testing is being developed, but he didn’t know how much such a program might cost. $10,000? $100,000?
He noted that testing cannot begin until the weather is consistently warm, to avoid spreading water across the roads and creating icy conditions.
He said he hopes to be able to present a testing plan within the next four weeks.
Disclosure: I currently serve as a volunteer member of the PAWSD Board, but this editorial reflects only my own opinions and not necessarily the opinions of other PAWSD Board members nor of the PAWSD staff.
Council member Leonard Martinez: “How many hydrants did you say we have?”
Mr. Ramsey: “1,140 hydrants, spread over 70 square miles.”
Commissioner John Ranson: “Justin, can I ask you… Is it your understanding that this is PAWSD’s responsibility?”
Mr. Ramsey: “That’s still questionable.”
Commissioner Ranson: “Do you own the hydrants?”
Mr. Ramsey: “We own the hydrants.”
Commissioner Ranson: “Then whose responsibility is it?”
Mr. Ramsey: “Our rules and regulations clearly state that we do not provide fire flow.”
Commissioner Ranson: “That’s a bad answer.”
Mr. Ramsey: “I will just pass on, that was a big discussion [at previous meetings]…”
Commissioner Ranson: “I just want to tell you, this is a very serious matter. And when you say you don’t know the cost — $10,000, $100,000 — I don’t care which number it is. If we don’t, as leaders in this community — with the weather that we’ve just had and watching Los Angeles — if we don’t do something right now. I don’t want to hear, ‘Four week…’ This discussion started six weeks ago. We should have something further along from you, right now.”
Mr. Ramsey: “We are moving forward with this.”
Commissioner Ranson: “I don’t want to hear, ‘Cost’. I don’t want to hear, ‘Who’s responsibility it is.’ Because it has to be done, and it starts with you guys. I’m getting more calls on this than anything. People are frightened out there. And for good reason. And if these haven’t been tested in ten years…”
In reality, of course, PAWSD does not operate at the direction of the BOCC. The PAWSD Board is an independent, elected government board that makes the policy decisions for its district.
Naturally, Commissioner Ranson is welcome to express his wishes, and his concerns. As he noted, he is getting calls on this issue from frightened constituents.
And why are they frightened? They live in an unseasonably dry, flammable landscape, where disastrous fires have occurred in the recent and distant past. Downtown Pagosa burned to the ground at least twice during the town’s early years. The 109,000-acre West Fork Complex Fire in 2013 could have easily destroyed the neighboring town of South Fork but for a shift in the weather.
Does Commissioner Ranson want to offer to help fund a testing program, or offer assistance from County employees? He stated he doesn’t care how much it costs. Perhaps he will consider backing that statement up with some County funding.
I want to add some perspective to this joint meeting discussion, from the viewpoint of a journalist who has been writing about water, wildfire, government incompetence, and government cooperation for the past 20 years here in Pagosa. And also, speaking as a volunteer member of the PAWSD Board.
During my 30 years living in Pagosa Springs, I have never heard of an incident where the Fire District hooked up to a hydrant and it didn’t work.
But there are basically two types of fires that we can worry about.
1. A structure fire. A single house or other building on fire.
2. A wildfire. An entire landscape, on fire.
We’ve had numerous structure fires in Pagosa Springs during my 30 years here. Most were effectively fought using our system of fire hydrants. The Adobe Building fire in 2016 was not fought effectively, however, in spite of completely draining the Reservoir Hill water tank.
Certain neighborhoods in Los Angeles and many other communities across the American West have been destroyed by wildfires during those same 30 years. Fire hydrants were of very little use in those instances, nor would they be of much use if we have a forest fire in Archuleta County. In fact, during some catastrophic fires, the water pipes in homes have melted or broken, and hemorrhaged water uncontrollably, until the surrounding hydrants lost pressure and became useless.
Frightened people are calling our County Commissioners, concerned about their fire hydrants. That cannot be a pleasant experience for our commissioners, given that the community doesn’t have a scheduled testing program.
The BOCC could, however, help fund such a program. As could the Fire Protect District.
I find it curious that, as a member of the PAWSD Board, I’ve not received a single phone call from concerned constituents, even though the fire hydrants officially belong to PAWSD.
My phone number is 970-903-2673. My Board email is bill.hudson@pawsd.org