After the 2018 Spring Creek Fire came dangerously close to Pinehaven, our community took bold steps to improve wildfire readiness, including the creation of a limited-access fire road. But this solution comes with challenges we can’t ignore. This post explores the origins, limitations, and future of Pinehaven’s fire road, and why smarter, more strategic investments may hold the key to long-term safety in our mountain community.
When the Spring Creek Fire tore through southern Colorado in 2018, it came alarmingly close to Pinehaven, turning our quiet mountain retreat into a frontline community overnight. In the aftermath, the need for stronger wildfire defenses was no longer theoretical; it was urgent. One bold step forward was the creation of a limited-access fire road that was cleared by neighbors, guided by fire officials, and carved with purpose into the rugged landscape. But this second access point, although a great improvement, has its limitations. This post explores the road’s origins, the challenges it presents, and what smarter, safer paths forward might look like for Pinehaven.
Origin of Pinehaven’s Limited-Access Road
After the devastating Spring Creek Fire in June 2018, one of the largest wildfires in Colorado’s history, Pinehaven’s vulnerability became alarmingly clear as flames came dangerously close to the subdivision, underscoring the need for strong defensive measures.(1) After the wildfire, fire officials and community members prioritized enhancing wildfire defenses along the western valley, including Pinehaven. A key strategy was vegetation thinning and clearing along Highway 12 and uphill from Pinehaven, funded by SPAWP (Sangre de Cristo Fire Adapted Community) grants. These efforts created strategic fuel breaks and reduced fire load (the total amount of combustible material) in the area around the cabin community.
A major outcome addressed the fact that Pinehaven previously had only one way in and out (via the main entrance on Hwy 12), so a limited-access road would benefit the community in several ways. The solution was to establish a cleared, unimproved, and limited-access road as an entry point for firefighters to bring in crews, equipment, and carry out backburns or firebreak operations.(2) Local Fire Chief Ron Jameson – whose family homesteaded the Pinehaven area back in 1896 – personally helped clear the limited access route, envisioning it as both a fuel break and emergency access point.(3)
The limited-access fire road continues to be maintained cooperatively by Pinehaven homeowners, the La Veta Fire Protection District, SPAWP, and the Colorado State Forest Service. However, like many shared resources, it occasionally needs more consistent attention to ensure it remains clear, accessible, and to keep it in optimal condition for emergency use. Efforts include yearly fuel reduction around the right-of-way, upkeep of tree-clear zones, and monitoring of unimproved sections for accessibility and signage.(4) Although the rough-cut road is recognized and incorporated into the local fire management strategy in the forthcoming Huerfano County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP), cited by SPAWP and the Colorado State Forest Service as part of the mitigation strategy, it remains a limited-access road for use by emergency personnel and not the general public.(5)
Navigating the Challenges
Given the region’s high wildfire risk, upgrading our limited-access road may seem like the best option to enhance emergency response and provide a second public evacuation route. However, the lesser-known reality about our current limited-access road is that, while it does provide some level of access, it has a few significant challenges in the face of a true emergency.
1. Location challenges. The current limited access road is situated in a what is called a draw. A draw is a natural, low-lying depression or shallow valley situated between two higher ridges or slopes. It often serves as a seasonal drainage channel, directing rainfall and snowmelt and occasionally acting as a flash 
flood pathway during heavy storms. Due to its moisture retention, a draw typically supports dense vegetation, including thick brush and timber, making it a fuel-rich zone and a significant concern for wildfire planning. In a fire event, draws can exhibit a dangerous chimney effect, funneling heat, smoke, and flames uphill at high speeds. Their steep, narrow terrain and overgrowth also make them difficult to access or escape from, which is why emergency vehicles often avoid them. Draws are frequently hidden from view, complicating threat detection, and while the natural grade may tempt road construction, such routes often become liabilities during fires or floods. These areas are also erosion-prone and serve as wildlife corridors, adding ecological and planning complexity. Given their sensitivity, draws require careful consideration in land use, especially when public safety and environmental impact are at stake. In addition, firefighters typically prefer to avoid draws during active fire events because these areas can act like chimneys, funneling heat, smoke, and flames uphill with dangerous intensity.(6)
While the existing limited-access road may not be in the most ideal location, it was the only feasible option given the need to navigate around existing structures
In addition, the existing limited-access road is not located on a public easement and crosses into private property at several points, with the permission of the landowners. Furthermore, while the desire for additional evacuation options is understandable, investing in a road that may not be viable or safe for use during an actual emergency could create unintended risks for both emergency personnel and residents.
2. Limited strategic value. Even if upgraded, the road’s geography limits its usefulness. Its placement in rugged terrain with dense vegetation in a draw makes it unlikely to serve as a viable escape route for large-scale evacuations, a staging area, or a firebreak. If fire crews are not able to use it due to safety concerns, its strategic benefit is limited.(7)
3. Minimal return on investment. The benefits of upgrading the limited-access road compared to the risks and associated expenses are extremely low. The high cost of upgrading a mountain fire road (grading, drainage, surfacing, etc.) may not be justified when weighed against its dangerous location and limited safety return.(8)
4. Maintenance challenges. Upkeep of the limited-access road is difficult due to its reliance on a small group of approximately 80 cabin owners, many of whom live out of state and are only seasonally available.
5. Alternative strategies may offer greater benefit. Resources might be better spent on defensible space projects, fuel mitigation, or improving access and signage along existing primary routes. These investments are more likely to benefit both residents and emergency responders during a wildfire.
Every mountain community faces its own unique challenges, but by working together, we can overcome them, grow stronger as a united neighborhood, and keep Pinehaven safe.
While our limited-access fire road may not be a perfect solution, its creation reflects something deeply encouraging: a community that cares, acts, and adapts in the face of danger. It has provided a second access for emergency personnel and an alternative exit for cabin owners should the main exit become unavailable. It stands as a symbol of what we can accomplish when residents, fire officials, and partners come together with purpose. As we look ahead, the key to Pinehaven’s safety lies not in a single road, but in a collective commitment to smart planning, continued mitigation, and neighbor-to-neighbor collaboration. With every branch we clear and every relationship we strengthen, we’re building more than fire defense, we’re building resilience.
*This post is part of a three-part series exploring Pinehaven’s limited-access fire road. You can dive into each chapter of the story using the links below:
Each entry offers a unique perspective on what the road means for our community’s safety and wildfire readiness.(8)
Footnotes
Parenthetical numbers in the text (e.g., 5) correspond to the sequentially numbered citations listed below.
1. World Journal. “Spring Creek Fire Updates.” Accessed July 18, 2025. https://worldjournalnewspaper.com/spring-creek-fire-updates/.
2. Cuchara Foundation, “Projects,” Cuchara Foundation, accessed July 15, 2025, https://www.cuchara.org/projects.
3. La Veta Fire Protection District, Fire Behavior Analysis, 2021, https://spawp.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/LVFPD_analysis_FINAL_12172021.pdf.
4. Huerfano County Water Conservancy District, “Cucharas Watershed Protection,” HCWCD, accessed July 15, 2025, https://www.hcwcd.net/cucharas-watershed-protection.
5. Acknowledgments of the Pinehaven fire road. 1) Huerfano County’s Request for Proposals for a county-wide Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) cites collaboration with the Colorado State Forest Service and local fire districts—and includes areas such as Pinehaven and Cuchara in their hazard assessment scope, indicating official recognition of mitigation corridor needs in that region (https://huerfano.us/request-for-proposals-community-wildfire-protection-plan), 2) In September 2020, the Colorado State Forest Service and the Spanish Peaks Alliance for Wildfire Protection (SPAWP) secured a $300,000 grant for a large-scale Highway 12 corridor mitigation project, directly benefiting communities like Pinehaven and Cuchara. This includes vegetation thinning and fuel reduction alongside the highway and associated access routes—implicitly covering and reinforcing fire road corridors (https://spawp.org/projects), and 3) According to reports on the 2018 Spring Creek Fire, wildfire crews constructed indirect firelines around Pinehaven and Cuchara, using bulldozers to scrape containment lines—including what became the Pinehaven fire road—and conducted burnout operations from that road to slow the advancing blaze (https://wildfiretoday.com/tag/spring-creek-fire).
6. "Anatomy of a Wildfire: How Fuel Sources, Weather and Topography Influence Wildfire Behavior,” Summit Daily, accessed July 19, 2025, https://www.summitdaily.com/news/anatomy-of-a-wildfire-how-fuel-sources-weather-and-topography-influence-wildfire-behavior/#:~:text=Fire%20tends%20to%20burn%20more,uphill%20side%20of%20the%20slope.
7. "Fire Behavior Factors," California Professional Firefighters, accessed July 19, 2025, https://www.cpf.org/health-and-safety/wildland-firefighter-safety/fire-behavior-factors#:~:text=Chimneys%2C%20chutes%2C%20gullies%2C%20and%20canyons%3A%C2%A0,in%20quantities%20that%20can%20kill.
8. Author’s note: In preparing this article, the author used AI-assisted tools for research support, proofreading, fact-checking, and stylistic refinement. The narrative, analysis, and historical interpretations are the author’s own, and responsibility for accuracy rests solely with the author. The blog’s research methodology statement is available at:
https://cabininthepinescuchara.blogspot.com/2019/03/methodology-sources-and-use-of-research.html
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