Wildfires are common in Colorado this time of year, when winds are strong and vegetation is dry.
Compounding that is a severe drought affecting most of Colorado east of the Rocky Mountains, including the Denver metropolitan area.
Mason suggests that landowners take the following actions to create defensible space around their homes in preparation for wildfire:
-Remove all flammable vegetation within 15 feet of any part of a home, including decks.
-Thin standing trees within 75-125 feet of all structures, and locate the wider buffer below homes on steep terrain.
-Allow at least 10 feet between the branches of standing trees.
-Prune up tree branches to a height of at least 10 feet.
-Dispose of slash, such as limbs and other woody debris, by chipping or piling and burning in winter (contact a CSFS district office about how to safely and legally burn slash).
-Keep grasses and weeds surrounding the home mowed to a height of less than six inches.
-Stack firewood and locate propane tanks at least 30 feet from and uphill of structures.
-Clear all vegetation within 10 feet of woodpiles, propane tanks, sheds and other structures.
-Remove pine needles from gutters and trim overhanging branches.
-In addition to creating defensible space, the CSFS emphasizes the importance of having fire-resistant roofing materials, because wood or shake shingles ignite easily. The CSFS also encourages subdivisions to establish Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs) to effectively mitigate the risk of wildfire throughout entire neighborhoods.
