Becoming Fire-Wise: Story Volunteer Fire Department Leads the Way

In the little mountain town of Story, Wyoming, something big happened recently that showed just how strong and caring this community really is. The Story Volunteer Fire Department hosted an important event on Saturday, April 26th for our town called Becoming Fire-Wise. It was a special day focused on learning how we, as homeowners and neighbors, can work together to protect our beautiful home from the dangers of wildfires.

Jon Warder from the Big Horn National Forest Service shares valuable insights on fire mitigation and prescribed burns at the Fire-Wise event in Story, WY.

One of the biggest highlights of the event was the showing of a powerful short film called Fire Forest. If you haven’t seen it yet, you're in for something truly eye-opening. The film stresses just how important it is for all of us, not just firefighters, but every single one of us to play a part in fire prevention and mitigation.

Heather Watt, our incredible Fire Chief (and true hometown hero!), spoke at the event. She shared from the heart, saying, "Last year was a busy year for fires." In fact, she said it was the busiest fire season she has ever experienced! She talked about some of the major fires that many of us remember, the House Draw Fire, Badger Creek Fire, and the Elk Fire in the Big Horn National Forest. These fires weren't just news headlines; they were real threats that put our forests, homes, and lives at risk.

Heather wasn’t alone in educating the community. Jon Warder from the Big Horn National Forest joined the event too. Jon explained how prescribed burns, which might look scary at first, are actually one of the smartest and safest ways to prevent huge fires later on. He shared that there's a lot of focus on doing these burns around Story because they know how important it is to protect this very special place we call home.

Another important guest at the event was Paul Wright, a fire mitigation coordinator who has spent a lot of time making sure our area stays safe. Paul stuck around to answer questions from folks in the community.

Now, if you missed the event, don’t worry — you still have a chance to be a part of this important conversation! You can watch the Fire Forest film online, and honestly, it’s worth every one of the 16 minutes.

Here’s a little sneak peek of what the film shares:

In August of 2020, the Cameron Peak Fire was racing uncontrollably towards communities in northern Colorado. As it reached the footprint of a past U.S. Forest Service prescribed burn and the Drala Mountain Center (formerly Shambhala Mountain Center), a near-miracle occurred. The prescribed burn, combined with forest restoration treatments at Drala, gave firefighters a foothold to halt a portion of the fire and avert disaster for the communities downslope.

This 16-minute film tells the story of what happened there through the accounts of a U.S. Forest Service fire specialist, a Larimer Conservation District forester, and the Drala land manager. Together, they urge us to see fire and forest management as natural and essential parts of the landscape. By shifting the way we perceive fire and actively preparing forests to receive it, we can create hope for living with wildfires. (https://www.fireforestphoto.com/film)

In a world where bad news spreads fast, it’s refreshing to see good news about people working together to make a real difference. That’s what Becoming Fire-Wise is all about, neighbors looking out for neighbors, learning, and preparing for whatever might come.

Here is the Short Film:

If you want to stay up to date with more important events, public announcements, and updates, be sure to follow the StoryWyoming.org Facebook page.

You can also visit the Story Volunteer Fire Department’s webpage at StoryWyoming.org to see all the amazing things these brave men and women are doing.

A big thank you to Chief Heather Watt, Jon Warder, Paul Wright, and everyone at the Story Volunteer Fire Department who are working so hard to protect our town.