JEFFERSON COUNTY HORSE EVACUATION
ASSISTANCE TEAM
JEFFCO HEAT  

  The Jeffco Heat Team began forming in January  2003. We found after several years, thousands of hours, and miles, and several 100 large animal evacuations during the front range fires, coupled with the ever-growing equine population, that the need for a more qualified animal response team was a necessity. The members of Jeffco HEAT have responded to Buffalo Creek, High Meadow, Schoonover, Black Mountain, and The Hayman fire, and been on standby for many others along the front range. The teams services are at Jefferson County Sheriff’s request 24 hours a day. The teams members were among those that decided the Jeffco Fairgrounds was an excellent holding area for the evacuated animals.

  This new (Elite) team has been a year in the planning stage and has now established our non-profit status. To this point all funding has been through our members. We are made up solely of volunteers who have a serious love for the animals. The members are willing to dedicate their time and efforts to better themselves through many hours of training in many different areas of animal evacuation such as; fires, floods, entrapment, mudslides, and accidents. We are also available to assist the state and its counties in horse neglect cases. Our team is now working towards many goals such as Wildland Firefighter, Ham Radio Communication, and Incident Command. We are also looking towards more advanced training in water, mud, and air assisted evacuation. Jeffco HEAT also has a semi truck available to pull a large cattle or horse trailer, although at this time we do not have a trailer for either.

    The state of Colorado is now in the process of forming a statewide animal response team made up of many different agencies from all counties wishing to participate called COSART (Colorado State Animal Response Team). The Jeffco HEAT team has been invited by COSART, and the Jefferson County Sheriffs Department to participate in a January 2004 meeting.

   We are striving to help humans and animals cope with disaster by providing comfort to both through a safe and organized fashion.

   The Jeffco HEAT Team thanks you for your support.

   For more information contact Scott Halladay, KCØOER, 303.674.4669.