GILPIN COUNTY — More than 50 people attended the Community Engagement meeting at the Gilpin County Community Center on March 24, 2026, which focused on wildfire preparedness. Officials warned that drought conditions are setting the stage for a dangerous fire season.

The event brought together the Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office, the Office of Emergency Management (OEM), Public Works Director John Combs, and community partners, including Brittanie Dickson of No Animal Left Behind. Slides and the agenda covered preparedness, evacuation planning, Genasys alerts, and lessons from recent emergencies.

Sheriff Kevin Armstrong opened the evening with a message focused on readiness and concern.

"Even though we are in a drought, 58% of our snowpack up here, remember how that equates to being able to fight our fires in our community. The complexity of fighting a fire and getting water out of our reservoirs and out of our ponds that we use in our community are now going to be restricted as a result of that."

He continued to say "That's why it's important that we are all consciously aware of our neighbors, ourselves, and our friends about how fire restrictions are in place and how to help that person understand the severity that we are in at this county. I'm very concerned about this upcoming season where we have fire season 365 days a year, plain and simple. There's no doubt."

Residents fill the room during the preparedness meeting. Commissioners Susan Berumen and Sandy Hollingsworth are seated among the crowd.

Photo by Mindy Leary

He also made a clear promise. “I will order evacuations early. I’m not going to wait until it’s at your back door.”

“If you don’t feel safe, get out. Don’t wait for somebody to tell you."

OEM Director Steven Mingura followed with an update on current conditions. He said the county is already in severe drought due to low snowpack and early heat.

Preparation starts now

Mingura stressed that preparation must happen before an emergency begins. “You don’t rise to the occasion in an emergency,” he said. “You fall back on your level of preparation.”

Newly appointed Deputy OEM Nahirimar “Nighty” Simmons was introduced during the meeting and helped lead the presentation. She told residents she is focused on outreach and preparedness.

Nahirimar “Nighty” Simmons, the new Deputy in the Office of Emergency Management, speaks to attendees.

Photo by Mindy Leary

“I’m really eager to learn and just help out as much as I can,” Simmons said. She just bought a home in the area with her husband. She then walked attendees through the steps they can take now.

Residents were encouraged to prepare a “go bag” with essential items, such as important documents, medications, pet vaccination records, clothing, food, and water. Simmons said it should be something you can grab quickly and take out the door, stored in a garage or vehicle.

Water was described as critical. “No power… You don’t have any water,” Simmons said, noting many homes rely on electric well pumps. Officials recommended at least one gallon per person per day.

Know your zone

A major focus of the meeting was the Genasys Protect system. The app allows residents to identify their evacuation zone and receive alerts tied to their location.

“If you don’t know your zone, you’re already behind,” Mingura said. Gilpin County has been divided into about 19 zones.

Officials demonstrated how to use the app and encouraged residents to download it. Genasys works alongside Hyper-Reach alerts.

“Hyper-Reach will provide the text information…Genasys will provide that visual view,” Mingura said. Residents were also encouraged to use Watch Duty but noted that it is not an official source. He urged residents to rely on County-issued information during emergencies.

Animal response and transparency

Animal evacuation planning was also discussed. Brittanie Dickson’s nonprofit organization, No Animal Left Behind, will assist with small animal rescue.

Brittanie Dickson (left) of No Animal Left Behind stands with Undersheriff Greg Demo during the discussion on animal response and emergency coordination.

Photo by Mindy Leary

For large animals, the County is partnering with Boulder and Jefferson counties. A separate protocol is being developed for critical incidents.

Undersheriff Greg Demo addressed GCART funding. He said funds are now governed by contract in an effort to improve transparency.

“The monies will be only released by the authority of the sheriff, myself, or OEM,” Demo said. Funds will be tracked through a voucher system.

Wind events exposed weaknesses

Officials reviewed recent wind events that caused widespread power outages. The March 11–12, 2026, storm brought gusts exceeding 80 mph, with the highest recorded gust reaching 103 mph, leaving residents without power and communication for days.

“We lost more than just power,” Mingura said. “We lost communication.” He said that created major challenges for response efforts.

Steven Mingura, Office of Emergency Management Director, presents on wildfire preparedness and emergency planning.

Photo by Mindy Leary

A December 2025 wind event caused similar damage. It downed trees and power lines, which sparked small fires near Geranium Way and Highway 72.

 Mingura said the recent wind events revealed weaknesses in communication systems and infrastructure. The County is now working to improve redundancy.

“If one system fails, we need another way to reach people,” Mingura said. Plans include satellite communication and improved coordination.

Community concerns

Residents raised concerns about evacuation timing and communication failures. Some asked what would happen if cell service goes down again.

Others asked about elderly residents and livestock evacuations. One attendee described checking on neighbors during outages.

Questions were also raised about evacuation routes and traffic. “How are you going to handle all of those people hitting the roads?” one resident asked.

“When it happens, it’s going to happen fast, and it’s going to be overwhelming,” Mingura said. 

He urged residents to plan ahead, know their area, and follow the evacuation routes advised in Genasys and Hyper-Reach. Facebook was noted as the main social media channel for the OEM and the Sheriff’s Office to communicate with the public.

Outlook

Officials closed the meeting with a focus on immediate action. Residents were encouraged to create go bags, clear defensible space, and sign up for alerts.

The County’s slash disposal site will open three weeks ahead of schedule, on April 1, with new hours from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sundays.

“Having a plan in place before an emergency happens can make all the difference," Armstrong said. The message was clear.

With drought conditions and Stage 1 Fire Restrictions already in place, preparation cannot wait.