Summer is fast
approaching and with it comes wildfire season. Colorado has had its share of devastating fires, with many homes and communities affected directly. With our
region continuing to grow, our spread into Wildland
Urban Interface areas has increased as well. This has led to more homes and
people at risk from wildfires. But greater risk can be counterbalanced with preparedness. Working with a variety of
fire-prevention organizations, the Colorado
Association of Realtors® is focused on raising awareness to help “prevent
and reduce the damage to land, property and lives”, through the Colorado Project Wildfire. This statewide program
was created to help communities, homeowners and families learn about wildfire
risks and prevention methods. Listed below are some tips from Project Wildfire,
which you can use to prepare your home
for wildfire season.
There are two prime areas to focus on
when it comes to reducing the risk of wildfire susceptibility. First is to create a defensible area around your
home and any buildings on your property. Creating a defense around your home involves specific
planning for the landscaping and outdoor features of your property. If you live in the foothills or in areas
close to ponderosa pine forests for example, creating a series of fire
prevention zones will help protect your home.
The outer
zone covers the area of your property 100-200
feet away from your home, up to and including your property line. This is
your first line of defense, where keeping trees thinned, with a minimum of 10 feet between tree tops
will lessen the likelihood of fire spreading. Keep dead vegetation out of this
zone, and avoid “ladder fuels”, vegetation levels which step down or up close
to one another, as this can allow fire to move quickly.
The middle zone is within 30-100
feet of your home. Landscaping in this area should be in islands, separate from one another to
help prevent spreading by breaking up where potential fire fuel is on your
property. As with the outer zone, keep dead foliage cleaned up and keep lawns
or flowers and shrubs to a maximum of 8”
high.
The inner
zone is the area just outside your
home up to 30 feet away. Here is where you want to keep vegetation away from building surfaces, which should be fire retardant. Check and regularly
prune overhanging branches and store loose combustibles such as firewood
outside of this zone.
The second area to focus
on for wildfire preparedness is to reduce
the ignitability of your home through structural materials. Also known as hardening your home, there are a variety of
ways that can make a big difference. Some examples include installing a fire sprinkler system in your home, enclosing gutters and eaves along your
roofline, as well as any vents exposed to the exterior of your home. Using non-combustible materials such as brick,
stone or concrete fencing can also help keep a wildfire from reaching your
home.
You can also find more information
through FireWise one of the
organizations working with Colorado Project Wildfire. If you are planning to
sell your home soon, highlighting the wildfire preparedness of your home can
not only be a great selling point,
but can also add value to your home.
If you are on the search for a new home, be sure to keep Colorado Project
Wildfire in mind during your home search.
When you are ready to buy or sell your home, we at Springs LifeStyles Real Estate are here to help
you with all of your real estate needs! As your buyer agent, we will
strive to give you the best support we can. Call Kathy
Stenberg at (719) 963-4867 or you
can email her at springslifestyles@gmail.com You can also visit us
at our website for available listings
and additional information.
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