‘How we practice is how we play’: first responders, Colorado Springs residents practice wildfire evacuations

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV)—More than 40 households and agencies across Southern Colorado participated in an annual exercise Saturday that aims to prepare people for the possibility of wildfire evacuations.

The premise was simple: a wildfire is approaching the Broadmoor Bluffs area from the west and evacuations have been ordered.

Agencies involved included the Colorado Springs Police Department, Colorado Springs Fire Department, Pikes Peak Regional Office of Emergency Management, El Paso County Sheriff's Office, American Medical Response, and many more.

Organizers said it's a good opportunity for agencies in the region to sharpen their skills together.

"This is unique, having an exercise of this scale, at least in the front range of Colorado," Pikes Peak Regional Office of Emergency Management Executive Director Andrew Notbohm said. "A disaster is not the time to get to know our partners in an emergency."

"This is all just exercising and greasing the wheels," CSFD Deputy Chief of Operations Steve Wilch said. "In Colorado Springs and El Paso County, wildfire is a risk 365 days of the year."

Wilch said people need to keep their guard up during the fall and winter months when it comes to wildfires.

"When we go into the fall or winter, the fuels dry out, the moisture goes into the ground into the root system so our light, flashy fuels, those grasses that carry the fire, they're really susceptible to that cigarette butt or to that chain that was dragging," he said.

More than 90 residents in Broadmoor Bluff volunteered to be part of the exercise, including Olga Sexton.

"I come from Florida and evacuation is very regular in that state," she said. "I'm used to that but I've never been used to that in Colorado and I really appreciate the opportunity to see how it's done here."

The exercise began when both police and fire began knocking on volunteers doors around 10:00 a.m., informing them that evacuations were taking place. Around 11:00 a.m., an alert went out, telling volunteers to evacuate and make their way to Harrison High School.

Waiting for them was a preparedness fair, where they enjoyed a free lunch, information from different agencies, and a presentation from first responders and elected officials on how to prepare for an emergency.

One of the best ways to prepare one's family for disaster is to make a plan.

"You should know what the risks are in your community and have a plan to address those risks," Notbohm said.

Another way to be prepared is to put together an evacuation kit. According to the Pikes Peak Regional Office of Emergency Management , a kit should include the five P's:

People: bring everything you need for the next 72 hours

Pets: food, water, kennel, toys, etc.

Papers: the deed to your home, insurance papers, birth certificates, telephone numbers, etc.

Photos: the ones that cannot be replaced

"The better prepared we are in advance, the more successful we're going to be and the quicker we're going to be able to recover from a disaster or wildfire," Notbohm said.

One of the best ways to be alerted to emergency situations in your area is to sign up for Peak Alerts. You can do that here .