Then LAFD Capt. Van Leimer explains how some department equipment works to folks at the 2023 Wildland Fire Day. Now Wildland Fire Chief, Leimer will be on hand at this year’s event Saturday at Ashley Pond. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com

BY MAIRE O’NEILL
maire@losalamosreporter.com

Los Alamos Fire Department is always in READY status for wildland fire. Being ready is pretty much an all-year priority for LAFD. The Wildland Fire Division and the department as a whole are constantly preparing for potential wildland fires within and around the community – planning for what might happen, the community’s uncertainty as to when it might happen.

While many of us are familiar with the READY, SET, GO! program, we often only think we know our plan for a real-time wildfire threat or evacuation. To help, the LAFD provides comprehensive materials on all aspects of wildland fire safety, including checklists and defensible space advice. This information is available online, in print, or through face-to-face conversations with LAFD personnel.

You can meet the team—including Chief Erik Litzenberg and Wildland Fire Chief Van Leimer—during Wildland Fire Day this Saturday, April 4, at Ashley Pond Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Since the Easter Egg Hunt starts at 11 a.m., so there’s a perfect opportunity to check out the fire trucks and equipment, as well as check out the written material and freebies while you’re there.

From left, LAFD Chief Erik Kitzenberg, Wildland Fire Chief Van Leimer, and Fire & Safety/Fire Marshall Colorado Cordova. LAR Screenshot

This year’s fire season is already upon us as evidenced by the multiple fires that have already broken out around the state. In Los Alamos County, LAFD Chief Erik Litzenberg, Wildland Fire Division Chief Van Leimer, and Fire & Life Safety/Fire Marshal Chief Colorado Cordova (see https://www.losalamosnm.gov/Government/Staff-Directory-and-Departments/Fire-Department/Command-Staff for information on their backgrounds) recently made a very comprehensive presentation to County Council that takes about 20 minutes to watch and contains, in one place, much of the important information LAFD wants the community to be familiar with, including:

*READY SET GO

See link below for 20-minute video

*Home Assessments available to the community To schedule a free wildland assessment for your home or business, please click here: LAFD Home Assessment

*Sign up for Everbridge Emergency Alert System https://www.losalamosnm.gov/News-articles/County-launches-Everbridge-emergency-alert-system

WATCH THE 20-minute video at

https://losalamos.granicus.com/player/clip/4614?meta_id=314188.