Steamboat Springs Fire Rescue and the Milner Park Community Cooperative have brought a long-dormant fire protection system back online in Milner, restoring a key water source for firefighting in the rural neighborhood, according to a statement released on Tuesday. 

The system, installed in 1994, was found to be out of service earlier this year, a concern that grew after a fire destroyed the Camiletti barn along U.S. Highway 40 in May, when firefighters were unable to draw water from the park hydrant. 

Cooperative members then contacted SSFR Fire Marshal Doug Shaffer to determine what repairs were needed.

Working together, the groups replaced underground piping and the hydrant endpiece before backfilling the area. A retaining wood wall will be added once the ground thaws to further stabilize the site. 

In December, Shaffer and SSFR Lieutenant Devin Borvansky tested and filled the tank, confirming the hydrant is fully operational and ready to serve an area without municipal hydrants.

“This partnership reflects the power of community initiative,” said Shaffer in the statement. “Having a reliable water source in Milner Park greatly enhances our ability to respond quickly and effectively to fires in Milner and the surrounding homes and ranches.”

SSFR also credited the cooperative’s ongoing wildfire preparedness and prevention work and thanked cooperative members and local plumber Joe for helping complete the project.