On Wednesday, 12 March 2025, our Club will welcome Poudre Fire Authority personnel, Public Information Officer, Annie Bierbower, Fort Collins Community Officer and Fire Chief Derek Bergsten. They will offer timely information and guidance on protecting ourselves, our property and our community from wildfire.
The recent Southern California urban and interurban wildfires together with the fire in Superior Colorado starkly illustrate that no one is safe from fire. Extremes in weather and climate, particularly dry, hot and windy conditions seem to be more common. Match that with dry dense fuels (i.e., homes and landscapes) and all that is needed is an ignition point, such as a careless match or cigarette or a downed power line to create a deadly conflagration.
How can we reduce the risk of such an event? Well, we can’t change the weather but we can address the fuel situation and our behaviors. Our local fire professionals will fill us in on their best recommendations for actions we can take. They may even provide some examples as to where such actions have resulted in avoided disasters.
Chief Bergsten became Chief in May 2021 arriving here from Rockford, IL. He is an innovator who strives for collaboration and diversity. He began his career as a firefighter on 1989 in Loves Park, Illinois before becoming chief in Rockford where he was named Illinois Fire Chief of the Year. He is an EMT and holds an MPA from Northern Illinois University and certificates from Harvard and the Naval Post Graduate School. Chief Bergsten will introduce Annie who has been with PFA for 5 years though she has worked in communications for 15 years. She loves sharing stories about our expert fire professionals. Growing up in Nebraska and graduating from UN Kearney she loves spending time outside with her family.