This year’s early wildfires in Colorado serve as a reminder that every Coloradan who lives in an area at risk from wildfire can take personal steps to protect their home. Firefighters, who put themselves at risk every time they fight a wildfire, cannot protect every structure from fast-moving wildfires, particularly in areas where no defensible space work has been done. This means firefighters will focus first on protecting structures and properties that are prepared for wildfire.
The recent rain in parts of Colorado may lure people into thinking they don’t need to take measures to protect their homes, but just a few days without measurable precipitation can turn green grasses into fine fuels that will quickly carry a fire. In other words, it’s not a matter of if a wildfire will occur; it’s a matter of when.
When we take the necessary precautions, our homes have a better chance of withstanding a wildfire. This starts by maintaining a home with wildfire safety in mind. We encourage homeowners to follow the guidelines established by the National Fire Protection Association’s Firewise Communities and Colorado’s Are You FireWise? programs. That includes giving special consideration to using fire-resistant building materials such as metal roofing, which is impenetrable to embers. Another important recommendation is to surround homes by a ring of defensible space. In Colorado, that means removing all flammable vegetation within 15 feet of structures, and extending defensible space up to 75 feet by thinning trees, mowing grasses and keeping all vegetation trimmed.
Firewise Communities and Colorado’s Are You FireWise? programs provide detailed information on building and modifying homes and landscaping to make them likelier to survive a wildfire. Free materials provided online and through local community outreach can make a difference in a home’s survivability, and make it safer for firefighters to defend your home.
As citizens, officials, homeowners and volunteers, we encourage Coloradans to take proactive steps – many that are simple and free of cost – to protect themselves and their homes from wildfires. Even simple steps such as routine yard clean-up can keep homes, communities and other property from becoming fuel for a wildfire.
The Colorado State Forest Service has experts ready to help you become FireWise. The Firewise Communities and Colorado’s Are you FireWise? programs can teach you how to make your community safer and help reduce the risk of losing lives, property and our state’s important natural resources to wildfire. So take steps now to protect yourself, your homes and the firefighters who risk their lives to protect yours.
Dave Nuss is a career firefighter with over 22 years of service in Colorado and Oregon. He is manager of the Wildland Fire Operations Division at the National Fire Protection Association. Jeff Jahnke is Colorado State Forester and director of the Colorado State Forest Service. He served as commander of a Type 1 Incident Management Team.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is an online-only column and has not been edited.
