Five Years After the East Troublesome Fire: Congressman Joe Neguse and Local Leaders Join Grand County Wildfire Council and KFFR for a Community Conversation -

GRAND LAKE, CO — On Wednesday, October 22 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., the Grand County Wildfire Council and Fraser Valley Community Media (KFFR 88.3 FM / KWTR 89.1 FM) will host a live public forum marking the five-year anniversary of the East Troublesome Fire at the Grand Lake Community House. The event will also air live on KFFR and stream at KFFR.org.

The discussion will open with Congressman Joe Neguse, Commissioner Merrit Linke, and Grand Lake Town Manager Steve Kudron (mayor during the 2020 fire) highlighting how local, county, and federal governments have worked to strengthen wildfire mitigation and emergency preparedness since the fire.

Following this leadership segment, the program will broaden into a community panel of local emergency management, fire, and forest-health experts, sharing lessons learned, recent successes in mitigation projects, and what residents can do to reduce wildfire risk. Audience questions will close the evening.

Panelists include:

Congressman Joe Neguse, U.S. Representative for Colorado’s 2nd District
Commissioner Merrit Linke, Grand County Board of Commissioners
Jessica Rahn, President & Executive Director, Grand County Wildfire Council
Steve Kudron, Town Manager, Town of Grand Lake (Mayor during the East Troublesome Fire)
Alexis Kimbrough, Director of Emergency Management, Grand County
Assistant Chief Ron Thurston, Grand Fire District No. 1
Chief Seth St. Germaine, Grand Lake Fire Department
Ryan McNertney, Colorado State Forest Service

“This is a collaborative conversation about accountability and recovery. The Grand County Wildfire Council has been instrumental in helping our community take tangible action on mitigation and education, and KFFR is proud to amplify that work,” said Ryan Wilson, Executive Director of Fraser Valley Community Media (KFFR 88.3FM)

“Five years after the East Troublesome Fire, we are stronger and more connected than ever,” added Jessica Rahn, Executive Director of the Grand County Wildfire Council. “This event is about progress and how far we’ve come and what still lies ahead.”