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Fire mitigation: Protect your property now


By Patte Smith, illustration from South Metro Fire Authority publication

Seeing plumes of smoke not far from homes in the Castle Pines and surrounding area definitely puts residents on edge and worried about their properties. With fire season here, firefighters and residents need to be on alert for the possibility of a fire. Homeowners need to take the responsibility of helping to protect families, pets, and property.

With this in mind, a Surrey Ridge resident invited Einar Jensen of the South Metro Fire Rescue Authority to review their property. Jensen reviewed the structure itself and then walked the property with the homeowner to make suggestions of ways to offer more defensive protection for the home. He also noted the positive safety precautions that were already in place.

“I was impressed with Einar’s knowledge and the additional measures he suggested to protect our home,” stated the homeowner. “There is a misconception of what fire mitigation is in our rural-urban setting. Neighbors think that we will have to cut down trees and reduce landscaping. What I discovered from Einar is that isn’t true at all. I also learned what vegetation I have that helps repel flames. He did a very thorough analysis of our property and I am relieved to know what we can do to improve defensible space.”

A few suggestions were to remove ladder fuels on the scrub oak that were close to the home and trim some branches off of a few trees. Trim back shrubs three feet from the sides of the driveway so a fire truck can enter it easily. Surrey Ridge is in an “ember zone” so place 1/8” mesh inside or over vents, such as dryer and attic vents. This can stop embers from flying inside the home. And, make sure to register for Emergency Notification.

Jensen stressed that residents have to have defensible space for firefighters to be able to engage the fire. When entering a wildfire area where homes are located, firefighters have to make decisions on what properties can be defended successfully.

The most important step is to be ready in case of a wildfire and have a plan to evacuate. Practice the 4-Ps: pets, pills, paper and pictures. “These are the items most homeowners need or want to gather when having to evacuate. Take ten minutes and practice gathering these items. Know where they are so it only takes you ten minutes to evacuate. And since Surrey Ridge is horse property, know how you are going to move the horses and make sure you have a trailer that will hold all of them.”

Fire mitigation is an ongoing process year to year. Log on to www.southmetro.org and in the search window type in Ready, Set, Go. This publication contains valuable information and a description of wildfire mitigation. E-mail Einar.Jensen@southmetro.org or call 720-989-2273. 

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