Wildfire Mitigation through Defensible Space

Defensible Space:

A designated area around your home that is intentionally maintained so as to be free of any features that would tend to increase the risk of damage from wildfire

Roofing

• Use alternatives to old-fashioned wood shingles or shakes. Consider asphalt, fiberglass, concrete tile, clay tile, metal or other noncombustible roof coverings
• Keep rain-gutters cleaned out
• Cut back tree limbs that overhang your roof
• Have your chimney cleaned at least once a year

Vegetation

• "Low-limb" dead lower branches - you don't need to clear cut!
• Cluster trees so that there are gaps in the tree branch canopies overhead
• Cut "disturbed-land" grasses (those tall grasses introduced by bird seed, etc.) within 30 feet of your home
• Use fire-resistant shrubs and vegetation
• Remove combustible debris (including firewood!) from under porches, decks and crawl spaces

Combustible Exterior Walls

• Use alternatives to wood or other combustible wall materials, such as brick, stone, or metal
• If you chose wood siding, improve your defensible space to compensate
• Be sure to screen off crawl spaces and open areas under decks

Slope

• Wildfires "run" up slopes and gullies called "chimneys"
• Increase the size of defensible space on your property as the steepness of slope increases
• Wood piles and other combustibles should not be located down slope from or near your home
• Ask your local fire department to point out likely "fire runs" on your property

Remote Location

• Provide "quick access" for large fire apparatus, including a wide driveway, turnarounds, fire breaks and other defensible modifications to compensate for remote house locations.
• Post the address sign that is given to you after your building permit is issued.
• Know your assigned address so that the fire department can find you in an emergency.

Lack of Water

• Many Boulder County fire departments have available only the amount of firefighting water that they can carry on their trucks.
• Household water is limited and is often unavailable after electrical power is lost
• Consider the installation of a cistern for water storage
• Consult your fire department about installation so that it is usable and make sure that they know it is available