Colorado’s terrain is especially prone to devastating fires, so homeowners must be proactive in protecting their homes from the risk of wildfires. Fortunately, there are steps that can be taken to minimize the chance of a wildfire causing damage to your home.
By understanding the basics of wildfire prevention and evacuation, Colorado homeowners can ensure their homes are protected against the dangers of wildfire.
The first step in protecting your home is creating a fire-resistant landscape by removing combustible materials like dead leaves, dry grass, and bushes from your yard, and ensuring any remaining vegetation is well-watered and maintained.
Create Defensible Space
Creating a ‘defensible space’ around your home is the key to defending it from a wildfire. This involves the identification of a safety zone that is cleared of flammable items, and the installation of a fireproof perimeter barrier. This improves the chances of your home’s survival in the event that a fire does break out.
So, the steps you can take are to take an inventory of your property and check what kind of combustible items you need to move away. Once you identify those, you also need to create a fire-safe zone with a mixture of non-combustible materials like dirt and stones, and fire-resistant plants like grasses and bushes. This will help contain any potential fires from entering property.
Maintain Equipment and Install Smoke Detectors
Ensuring any outdoor power machinery, like lawn mowers and chainsaws, is kept in good working order and properly maintained can help avoid sparking a fire. You should also install and test smoke detectors around your home, and create an evacuation plan for yourself and your family. It is important to ensure that your evacuation plan and emergency contact information is up-to-date and available to all family members in case of a sudden fire.
Finally, if you live in an area that is particularly prone to wildfires, it might be worth investing in a fireproof home. Fireproof homes are specially designed and constructed so that they can withstand the heat of wildfires, using materials such as concrete, brick, and stone. While these homes may be more expensive than regular homes, the added protection they provide can be well worth the additional cost.
To further protect your home against wildfires, Colorado state law requires the removal of all dead and dying vegetation within a 100-foot radius of any structures, and certain townships or counties may have their own additional requirements for fire safety.
Follow Fire Safety Protocols during Fire Season
- Make sure your fire extinguisher is up to date
- Keep windows closed, doors and windows locked when you are absent
- Have an evacuation plan ready and keep it close by
- Keep firewood and combustibles away from your home
- Keep water hoses accessible and water sources such as ponds nearby
- Avoid using flammable liquid/chemicals
Conclusion
Wildfires are an ever-present danger in Colorado, but with the right precautions and preparation, your home can be protected against the risk of wildfire damage. Taking the time to create a fire-resistant landscape, maintain outdoor equipment, and install smoke detectors are all important steps in protecting your home from the danger of wildfires.