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Historic District for Conifer? What do you think?

Limted tickets for Meyer Ranch Tour & Talk
Sept. 18

Three Dog Night loved Conifer!

ALL NEW: health and wellness guide.

—BIG CHILI COOKOFF—

It started with an alarm

Many years ago, before cell phones, the firemen of the mountains were called to service by the sounding of alarms that were located high on the hills surrounding Evergreen. Each time those alarms went off, cars would start from homes all over the community and volunteer firefighters would race into action, determined to save a neighbor’s property and perhaps someone’s life. All those years ago when warning sirens started there was a little boy listening and watching and vowing that one day he would fight fires in the mountains that he called home.

It seems in our mountain communities, that it is a tradition, or perhaps a calling, that families, from generation to generation pass along the passion for fire and rescue, and because they do, those of us who live in the mountains can live with a bit more peace of mind. It must be something embedded deep in their being that compels them to answer the call, regardless of weather or time of day, and they seem to like it.

As I have been privileged to serve as director of the Big Chili Cook-Off this year I have been impressed many times over with these people who make sacrifices, of family time and work time to serve a community, and the work they do is in reality just that—service—because they don’t get paid for what they do, not for their time, not for their expertise. They are volunteers of the most extraordinary kind, because they don’t do it for a week or even a year but in most cases, for as long as 20 years. I have found that despite their lack of financial reward they take their fire and rescue work as seriously as if they were making millions.

It is hard to know what to say to people who give in such a vital way for people they may not even know. Thank you seems less than adequate, but sometimes it is the best we can do. So on Sunday, Sept. 12, we will meet at the Evergreen Lake House and cook gallons of chili, listen to great live music and generally spend the day behaving as a community that understands that what we have doesn’t come without a price. The money raised that day will at least begin to tell these brave people who live among us that we see what they do and appreciate it. Join us the second Sunday in September to say that we don’t take it for granted, to shake a hand and let them know we are proud of the work they do. Sometimes saying thank you can make all the difference in the world.

By the way, that little boy who heard the alarms and dreamed that one day he would fight fires in the mountains…his name is Wayne Shephard, and today he is deputy chief of fire operations for Evergreen Fire and Rescue.

Thanks, Wayne, and all of our volunteer firefighters in Indian Hills, Elk Creek, Platte Canyon, Inter Canyon, North Fork and Evergreen for hearing the alarm and coming to our rescue!

Contact Kristin Witt at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it