ROUTT COUNTY

wildfire prevention tips

HELP PREVENT THE DESTRUCTION OF LAND, PROPERTY AND HOMES
Sponsored by the Steamboat Springs Board of Realtors

Prepare Your Home

Due to Colorado's arid climate and fire-dependent forests, many homeowners and
landowners may be particularly vulnerable to wildfires. It is important to keep this
threat in mind when buying or building a home.
During wildfires, most homes are lost as a result of ember showers that deposit hot
embers on especially vulnerable areas such as roof valleys, gutters and decks. These
embers smolder in gathered pine needles, leaves and even on furniture cushions,
eventually igniting nearby structures such as siding, decks and fences.
Photo: Colorado State Forest Service

Remember...

Reducing fuels
around a home will
increase the chances
for survival in a
wildfire, but there is
no guarantee.
This brochure
provides minimum
guidelines. The more
fuels you remove, the
greater the chance
your home will
survive.
Working with
your neighbors
and community
will increase the
effectiveness of your
homes defensible
space.

There are several easy steps homeowners can take to help protect their property and
inhibit the spread of wildland fires by creating defensible space around their home.
Defensible space is defined as at least a 30-foot buffer zone.

Prepare Your Family

Create and practice a Family Disaster Plan that includes meeting locations
and a communication plan. Your plan should include evacuation of large
animals such as horses.

Have fire extinguishers and train your family how to use them.
Ensure that your family knows where your gas, electric and water main
shut-off controls are and how to use them.

Plan several different evacuation routes.

Designate an emergency meeting location outside the fire hazard area.
Assemble an emergency supply kit as recommended by the American Red Cross.
Keep an extra kit in your vehicle.

Identify an out-of-area friend or

relative as a point of contact so
you can communicate with family
members.

Maintain a list of emergency contact

numbers on your phone.

Have a battery-powered radio so

you can stay updated.

CREATE A DEFENSIBLE SPACE

Defensible space is the area around a home or other
structure that has been modified to reduce fire hazard. In
this area, natural and man made fuels are treated, cleared or
reduced to slow the spread of wildfire. Creating defensible
space also works in the reverse, and reduces the chance
of a structure fire spreading to neighboring homes or the
surrounding forest. Defensible space gives your home a
fighting chance against an approaching wildfire.
Creating an effective defensible space involves a series of
management zones in which different treatment techniques
are used. Develop these zones around each building
on your property, including detached garages, storage
buildings, barns and other structures.

10 EASY STEPS YOU

CAN TAKE TO PROTECT
YOUR HOME
Identify your defensible space.
Reduce flammable brush around your
home and under nearby trees.
Prune or remove trees.
Keep grass and weeds cut low.
Clear woodpiles and building
materials away from your home.

The actual design and development of your defensible

space depends on several factors: size and shape of
building(s), construction materials, slope of the ground,
surrounding topography, and sizes and types of vegetation
on your property. You may want to request additional
guidance from your local Colorado State Forest Service
forester, fire department or a consulting forester as you plan
a defensible space for your property.

Keep your yard and roof clean.

Defensible space provides another important advantage

during a fire: increased firefighter safety. Firefighters are
trained to protect structures only when the situation is
relatively safe for them to do so. They use a process called
structural triage to determine if it is safe to defend a home
from an approaching wildfire. The presence or absence
of defensible space around a structure is a significant
determining factor used in the structural triage process, as
defensible space gives firefighters an opportunity to do
their job more safely. In turn, this increases their ability
to protect your home.

Make sure you have a family disaster

plan in place.

Keep address signs visible.

Choose fire-resistant building
material and lawn furniture.
Recycle yard debris.

If firefighters are unable to directly protect your

home during a wildfire, having an effective
defensible space will still increase your homes
chance of survival. It is important to remember that
with wildfire, there are no guarantees. Creating a
proper defensible space does not mean that your
home is guaranteed to survive a wildfire, but it does
significantly increase the odds.
Source: Colorado State Forest Service

ARE YOU FIRE WISE?

Three zones need to be addressed when creating defensible space:

ZONE 1

ZONE 2

ZONE 3

0-30 ft. This zone requires maximum hazard

reduction. Most flammable vegetation should
be removed in this zone, with the possible
exception of fire resistant plants.

30-100 ft. This zone should be designed to

diminish the intensity of a fire approaching
your home. The distance of zone 2
depends on the slope.

100+ ft. This area is the farthest from the home.

It extends from the edge of Zone 2 to your
property boundaries. A forester from your state
office can help you with creating a defensible
space in all zones.

ROUTT COUNTY BURNING PERMITS

The type of material being burned will determine what type
of permit, if any, is required. The state defines agricultural
burning as the open burning of cover vegetation for the
purpose of preparing the soil for crop production, weed control,
maintenance of water conveyance structures related to
agricultural operations, and other agricultural cultivation
purposes. These burns are generally exempt from
permitting; however, it is always a good idea to contact
your local fire department for confirmation.
Forestry practices are not considered exempt and do require
a permit. Permitting in Routt County has been simplified to a
single step: Contact your local Fire Department for an inspection
and permit. This inspection will determine: pile size and type;
any burn-day restrictions needed; and, any fire safety concerns.
Should the pile size be too large (Type 4) a Colorado State
Prescribed Fire Permit will be required.

Regardless of fire type, always contact Routt

County Dispatch (970.879.1110) before you burn.
Yampa Fire
Department

Routt County Permitting Process

Contact Local Fire Department
Oak Creek FD, 970.736.8104
North Routt FD, 970.879.6064
Hayden FD, 970.276.3796
Yampa FD, 970.638.4227
Steamboat Fire District Only
Routt County Environmental Health,
970.870.5588.
Max pile size allowed is 10 x 10. Larger piles
require CO State Prescribed Fire Permit.
Burn Season = Nov 1 to April 15
Fee: Varies by Department

WHAT IS THE WUI?

Wildland Urban Interface
With more than a quarter of Colorado residents living
in a Wildland Urban Interface (WUI), an area where
residential homes and commercial development
is intermixed with forested areas, it is becoming
increasingly important to educate and protect resident
and their property from devastating wildfires through
access to fire protection and mitigation information and
resources. With continued real estate development
throughout the state's WUI areas, estimated to grow
by nearly 300 percent in the next 15 years, the wildfire
threat is not only extremely real, it is not going away.

CALL 9-1-1

If you see smoke or fire call 9-1-1 immediately

LEARN MORE & STAY CONNECTED

There are many great apps and websites that can help you stay informed
about wildfires. Learn more at ColoradoProjectWildfire.com or contact
the Steamboat Springs Board of Realtors Association.

Photo: Colorado State Forest Service

Additional Sources:
International Association of Fire Chief's
RSG Program
USDA Forest Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Fire Administration

WWW.SSBR.ORG

Mission Statement

To enhance the ability and opportunity of

members to conduct their business
successfully, ethically and profitably.
To promote and preserve the right to own,
transfer and use real property.
To increase REALTORS' professionalism, skills,
knowledge, and community involvement.
To enhance the public's awareness and
confidence in REALTORS.

WWW.SSBR.ORG

Preparing your home and property from wildfire is a necessity if you live in the Wildland Urban Interface. It is
important to adequately modify the fuels in your home ignition zone. Remember, every task you complete around
your home and property will make your home more defensible during a wildfire. Always remember that creating
and maintaining an effective defensible space in the home ignition zone is not a one-time endeavor it requires
an ongoing, long-term commitment.

Annual Fire Safety Checklist

Thin trees and brush properly within the defensible space.
Remove trash and debris from the defensible space.
Remove any trees growing through the porch.
Clear roof and gutters of leaves and debris.
Remove branches overhanging chimney and roof.
Stack firewood uphill or on a contour away from the home.
Use noncombustible roof materials.
Place shutters, fire curtains or heavy drapes on windows.
Place screens on foundation and eave vents.
Enclose sides of stilt foundations and decks.
Use a chimney screen or spark arrester.
Clear vegetation around fire hydrants, cisterns,
propane tanks, etc.
Make sure an outdoor water supply is available,
with hose, nozzle and pump.

Make sure fire tools, ladder and fire extinguishers are available.
Post address signs that are clearly visible from
the street or road.
Make sure the driveway is wide enough for fire trucks
and equipment.
Post load limits on bridges.
Install and test smoke detectors.
Practice a family fire drill and evacuation plan.
Made in collaboration with:
Colorado State University
Extension. 5/99. Revised 1/12.
www.ext.colostate.edu

www.csfs.colostate.edu