Bon Carbo Volunteer Fire Department

INTRODUCTION

Circa 1600-1700, nomadic Indian tribes traveled thru Riley and Burro Canyons on their way to and from Indian settlements in New Mexico, hunting elk, dear, bear and smaller animals.  Along came the cavalry, followed by homesteaders in the early 1800's - just a handful who built log cabins and worked hard to survive.

In the late 1880's-1890's came the boom: The Bon Carbo Mine, Dick's Mine and several other mines opened and then came the big town of Bon Carbo, Colorado with miners from several different countries, states and cities.  Shortly after World War II (from the 1940's to the 1960's), the mines closed.  Consequently, the population of Bon Carbo dwindled, leaving the homesteaders and only a few miners.

In the 1960's and 1970's, a few people migrated from big cities to rural areas such as Bon Carbo.  Houses, barns and other out buildings cropped up.  After a few structure fires, the residents in the Bon Carbo area decided the time had come to establish the Bon Carbo Volunteer Fire Department, and in 1977 it became a reality.  Then in 2001, the Spanish Peaks/Bon Carbo Fire Protection District was formed, including the Spanish Peaks Volunteer Fire Department.  Later, in 2007, the town of Aguilar, Colorado was voted into the Spanish Peaks/Bon Carbo Fire Protection District.

The Bon Carbo Volunteer Fire Department has fluctuated in its' number of volunteers; there have been as many as 25 and as few as 5.
 
The Bon Carbo Volunteer Fire Department has resided on the Martinez land since late 1977 (14589 County Road 57.7). The Bon Carbo fire station houses six fire trucks, including four brush trucks, one mini pumper and one utility truck.  The fire hall doubles as a community hall and meeting place for the Bon Carbo Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary.

According to the 2000 census, the population of Bon Carbo was 159.  Several individuals own land here, but live in another country, city or state; some are seasonal residents. 

The Bon Carbo Volunteer Fire Department protects approximately 67,840 acres (106 sections) of land.  The structures are scattered throughout the entire district.  Through Las Animas County, the rural fire departments have mutual aid agreements - if ever the need arises, one or more of those departments will be called on to assist The Bon Carbo Volunteer Fire Department. 

The Bon Carbo Volunteer Fire Department also participates in the Trinidad Ambulance District "Quick Response Team".  They respond to medical calls in the Bon Carbo area.  Often the First Responder is the first on scene and is in constant contact with the Trinidad Ambulance while they are en route.

The current drought conditions in Las Animas County have heightened the awareness of all the Bon Carbo residents.  We've already had several red flag warnings (which means the weather is so hot, dry, and/or windy that it's too dangerous to burn) in 2012.