North Fork High School students were awarded 1st place in the 2021 RISE Challenge Colorado for their project focusing on wildfire risk in their community. The RISE Challenge gives students from Colorado the opportunity to share projects that address local issues associated with natural hazards and pitch their ideas to experts. The students learned about their community's wildfire risk by speaking with the Hotchkiss Fire Chief, Doug Fritz, and Delta County Emergency Manager, Kris Stewart, and by participating in a wildfire simulation game. In their winning RISE Challenge proposal, they outlined plans for an event to increase awareness in their community and set goals for measuring the impact of their work. This event is the result of those students' project and their collaboration with Hotchkiss Fire District and Delta County Emergency Management.

Please join the North Fork High School's 2021 RISE Challenge winners and Hotchkiss Fire District at the Redlands Mesa Fire Substation on May 1, 2022 from 12 – 2 PM for an Open House. During this event, Hotchkiss Fire District will be unveiling the renovations made to the Redlands Mesa Station, as well as two new fire engines.

Event participants will learn about local wildfire risk from the 2021 RISE Challenge winners and fire/natural hazards experts including the West Region Wildfire Council, NOAA Environmental Literacy Program, the National Weather Service, the Department of Fire Prevention and Control, Delta County GIS, and the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, Education, and Outreach of CU Boulder. There will also be a wildfire scenario game similar to the one the High School students experienced. Participants will have the opportunity to sign up to collaborate and share resources in the event of a wildfire, and sign up for Delta County’s Emergency Notification System. Food will be provided by the Southern Belle food truck.