Fort Collins District - Fire Mitigation

Fire is a natural process that has ecological benefits. When a fire occurs and conditions are in alignment for the fire to grow there is a hazard to life and property. The efforts to suppress fires are intended to reduce the threats to life and property. The effect of fire on your property is partially determined by what you have done to effect fire's behavior and what your neighbors have done.

Historic fire scar on lodgepole pine.

Although we all like to think the fire will be somewhere other than on our own property, fire is a part of the forest ecology. It's not a matter of if it happens, but when it happens.

Actions that a forest landowner can take to make your forest resilient to fire and to keep your home safe can be viewed in two categories: Defensible Space and Managing Your Forest.

Defensible Space is making your home more defendable and a safer working environment for firefighters. In Larimer County, Defensible Space design and marking services are provided by the Larimer County Wildfire Safety Program.

Managing Your Forest - Once you have established a Defensible Space around your home it is time to start managing the trees and vegetation around your home to reduce the fuel available to a fire. The Colorado State Forest Service Fort Collins District is available to help you begin to develop a Forest Management Plan for your property.

Working alone, you can significantly increase the chances of your home surviving a wildfire. If you work together with your neighbors and community you can significantly increase the chances of returning to green trees.

Web Resources:

Creating Wildfire Defensible Zones (205 KB PDF, You will need Acrobat 5.0, or higher to open this file.)
Community Wildfire Protection Plans
FireWise

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