Don't Leaf it Alone!

Fall is an excellent time to get around to those fire mitigation-related projects around your home. The days are cooler, the trees are not yet dormant, the bug activity is slowing, and the weather is great!

But isn't fire season over?

The temps are indeed cooler, and we've been blessed with additional moisture in late summer. However, it will take almost 2000 hours of moisture to reduce fire hazards in large trees or thick wood (also known as 1,000-hour fuels). The extended drought has kicked into high gear a cycle of tree stress and insect infestation that will continue even if Colorado Mountains get record amounts of precipitation this fall and winter.

Fall brings its own fire hazards, with higher wildfire risk for aspen, says Colorado State forester Kelly Rogers. "Fall is the time when tall mountain grasses and herbs begin to cure and dry out under aspen and conifers, increasing fire hazards in high altitude areas," states Rogers. The forest also becomes full of hunting activity - early morning warming fires can be left for out, then escape when unattended when temperatures heat up later in the day. Residents of Snowmass experienced an autumn fire as recently as November of 2003 that quickly grew to 60 acres. Fires in the fall can be fanned by high winds, and difficult to contain as quickly since the numbers of wildfire personnel are reduced after summer season.

Thinning and clearing brush and trees during the fall reduces the possibility of attracting forest insects to certain species of stressed or cut trees. Rogers also reminds us that fall and winter is a good time for mitigation in pinon while bugs are dormant. "Any time is a good time for fire mitigation, but especially late October when flight time for beetles is past," Rogers states.

Take advantage of the great fall weather check these safety tips around your home:

• As always, keep dry grasses and weeds mowed and well watered.
• Remove vegetation than can move a fire from the ground to treetops (ladder fuels).
• Dispose of dead material, limbs, and branches by chipping or hauling.
• Clean roof and gutters of pine needles and leaves.
• Clean your chimney; check spark-arrester screens and fire extinguishers.
• Remove any branches overhanging roofs and chimneys.
• Firewood is stacked uphill or away from the house.
• The clearance of trees and branches is wide enough for emergency vehicle access.
• Consider expanding your defensible space into the secondary and tertiary zones.
• Review your emergency/evacuation kit - include non-perishable food, potable water, flashlight and batteries.

How can I learn more? How can I get involved?

Mitigation research shows that homeowners are 50% more likely to implement defensible space if they have input on the planning and choices. Each community begins Firewise planning by identifying what's important to the residents. Now is the best time to get prepare a community fire plan if your neighborhood does not already have one, so you'll be "fire ready" as a community for next year:

• Plan: Assess your property or community as if a fire were approaching. Look with "fire's hungry eyes" at everything around you, and decide how to stop its advances.
• Prepare: Don't leave your good planning on the table. Start the process and set a schedule for completion.
• Work with others: Bring a fire department representative or Colorado State Forest Service forester to your homeowners association. Encourage neighborhood preparedness.
• Be responsible for yourself and your property.
• Build short and long-term goals: For example, clear brush around your house first, while looking at future needs for improved road access.

The Colorado State Forest Service and some local fire departments have limited cost share funds available for fire mitigation in their districts. Contact the mitigation specialist at your local fire department or CSFS district office. Even if their cost share funds are spent for the year, most offices are in the process of preparing grants for next year and appreciate community interest. You won't be "leafed" alone!

For more information, contact:

Your local fire department

Colorado State Forest Service: Garfield and Pitkin counties: 970-248-7325 Eagle County: 970-887-3121.

Colorado State Forest Service: www.colostate.edu/Depts/CSFS

Firewise Colorado: www.firewise.org/co/

Fire Ready: www.fireready.com

This article was featured in the Crystal Echo, Redstone's Community Paper in October, 2004.