Journal 26: Fire Road, Life-Saving Takeaways

Given the challenging location, limited tactical use, and high cost of upgrading Pinehaven’s limited-access road, it may be more effective to focus our energy on other proactive strategies. By investing in fire mitigation, strengthening evacuation plans, and enhancing prevention efforts, we can make a meaningful difference in our community’s safety.

Wildfire safety in Pinehaven isn’t just about having a backup road, it’s about being proactive, prepared, and united. While our limited-access fire road plays an important role for emergency responders, our greatest defense lies in the steps we take together as a community. From home mitigation and Firewise workdays to improving visibility for first responders and staying plugged into emergency alerts, every action adds up. This post offers six practical, hands-on ways you can make a real difference in our neighborhood’s wildfire readiness—plus two bonus videos. One is tour of the limited-access fire road and the second addresses evacuation driving best practices you won’t want to miss. 

Life-Saving Take-aways

Let’s talk about six practical take-aways to get started. 

1. Be the solution at home. Wildfire preparedness starts at home. Make sure you're staying on top of fire mitigation on your own property by clearing flammable materials, trimming vegetation, and maintaining defensible space reduces the likelihood of a home igniting and limits ember spread.(1)  The Pinehaven HOA hires a hauling contractor twice a year. One at the end of June and again in September to remove small branches and pine needles. Homeowners should place this debris in a single pile near the edge of their property along the roadside for pickup.

2. Participate in Firewise work days. As part of Pinehaven's Firewise program, the HOA also plans one or two community workdays, where cabin owners come together to reduce fire hazards across the subdivision and along shared areas. In addition, we band together to keep our roads clear of debris and other obstacles that could block emergency response. These actions give firefighters a safe zone to work and prevent fires from reaching buildings. They are also wonderful opportunities to get to know your neighbors and build relationships that can strengthen our neighborhood's safety and resilience. To learn how you can get involved or to add your name to the contact list, email Tom Thompson, Pinehaven HOA President, at this link.

3. Improve access and visibility for first responders. Though the limited-access road may not serve as a viable evacuation route for Pinehaven residents, we’re not out of options. By investing in community-wide defenses and working together on shared mitigation, we can significantly increase community safety. Emergency vehicles need clear, navigable access with visible signage. Widening narrow roads, clearing overhanging branches, and posting durable address markers on your property help first responders be more effective.

4. Maintain emergency awareness. Pinehaven’s limited-access road is a vital part of our wildfire safety plan, but it’s just one piece of the puzzle. True preparedness means taking action now. Evacuate early, pack a go-bag with essentials, keep your vehicle fueled up and ready to roll (facing out!), and sign up for the local emergency alert system. In the event of an evacuation, take only one vehicle if possible (carpool family members) to reduce traffic. Be sure to drive with headlights on in smoke and keep windows up and vents closed (or on recirculate) if driving through smoky areas.2  Bring your cell phone and text a friend or relative letting them know you left. Phone lines may be overloaded, but texts often go through. Every step you take now could make all the difference later. Pinehaven’s fire road is not a certified public evacuation route, but a limited-access path for emergency personnel. In a dire situation with no other exit, it may be the only option, but only with extreme caution, as it was not designed or maintained for general public use. You can download helpful PDF evacuation checklists at this link.

5. Drive evacuation routes slowly and steadily to escape wildfires safely. Remember, slow and steady is better than fast and careless. Here is a short video explaining the most common mistakes people make when driving under an evacuation order and best practices.

 

6. Sign up for emergency notifications. Code Red alerts are text notifications for all of Huerfano County, not just Pinehaven. These notifications are essential public communications during severe weather events,
wildfire evacuation warnings, and potential flood warnings.  You can subscribe to the Code Red alert system in two ways.

• Online subscription at this link: https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/48F38BC14956.
• Phone call. Call the La Veta dispatch and ask them to add your cell phone to the notification network to receive emergency alerts. Call 719-738-1044.

While Pinehaven’s existing fire road is not an official fire road and was not designed for general public evacuation, it does serve as a limited-access route intended for use by emergency personnel. In a critical situation where no other exit is available, residents may have no choice but to utilize this route. Anyone choosing to do so should proceed with extreme caution, as the road was not constructed or maintained to meet public evacuation standards. 

Bonus Video: A Quick Tour of the Limited Access Fire Road

Curious what the rough-cut fire road really looks like? This fast-motion video walk is two and a half minutes long and gives you a front-row seat. You'll get a feel for the steep descent, narrow path, and deep gulch where the road winds its way down. The downhill trek from the gate to Highway 12 took ten minutes on foot. But trust me, the uphill return was a whole different story and one I didn’t film for good reason! (3)  The background music for the video is Steve Earle’s song "The Firebreak Line" in honor of Huerfano area firefighters who protected Pinehaven in the 2018 Spring Creek fire.(4)

 

By working together, staying informed, and taking practical steps now, we can turn Pinehaven’s challenges into opportunities and ensure our mountain community remains as resilient as it is beautiful.

*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:

• Journal 24: Fire Roads vs. Limited Access—What’s the Difference?
• Journal 25: Pinehaven’s Limited-Access Road—Its Origin and Challenges
• Journal 26: Fire Road—Life-Saving Takeaways

Each entry offers a unique perspective on what the road means for our community’s safety and wildfire readiness.(5)

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Footnotes

Parenthetical numbers in the text (e.g., 5) correspond to the sequentially numbered citations listed below.

1. Colorado State Forest Service. Protect Your Home & Property from Wildfire. Accessed July 19, 2025. https://csfs.colostate.edu/wildfire-mitigation/protect-your-home-property-from-wildfire/. 

2. U.S. Fire Administration. Wildfire Evacuation Outreach Materials. U.S. Department of Homeland Security, FEMA. Accessed July 18, 2025. https://www.usfa.fema.gov/wui/outreach/wildfire-evacuation.html.

3. Gene Roncone, Personal video walk of the limited-access fire road from gate to Highway 12, recorded July 2025, https://youtu.be/j-lT9wxHx2k 

4. Background music: Steve Earle, The Firebreak Line, from the album So You Wannabe an Outlaw, Warner Bros. Records, 2017. Used under fair use for educational/non-commercial purposes. Available at https://youtu.be/81QQEblc8HQ?si=CrL0PiiNnxQJi8HK. 

5. 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