Colorado's Wildfire Risk
About 28% of all Colorado homes are at risk of burning in a wildfire. That’s 332,000 Colorado homes, second only to California. It’s one of the major factors in the high cost of home insurance in the state, and it’s a great reminder that you should mitigate your property every year if you live in an at-risk area.
Personal Experience with Fire Risk
My wife and I are west-siders in Colorado Springs, and Brian lives in Bailey—two areas full of trees and fuel for fires—so we both understand firsthand the work that goes into keeping your home as safe as possible from wildfire risk. It’s a lot of work!
What to Do with All the Wood?
One of the hardest parts about mitigating is figuring out what to do with the wood. You can’t just cut a tree down and leave it. That’s even worse than leaving it standing, and not all of us have a pickup truck to haul wood or a place to take it.
Available Resources for Mitigation
Fortunately, there are resources to help, like the Colorado Springs Neighborhood Chipping Program, where the city will come by and pick up your small trees and brush, chip it for you, and haul it away. It’s an annual program run by the Colorado Springs Fire Department, and it’s free to sign up for Colorado Springs residents. Other areas of Colorado have similar programs as well.
Getting Professional Help
After spending a few Saturdays climbing up every tree branch I could reach, I told my wife it was time for her to hold the big ladder while I climbed up with the chainsaw. She quickly vetoed my idea and suggested we bring in Shane, a professional. After taking a few pictures of Shane about 50 feet up the tree, I agreed it was a great idea!
Benefits of Mitigation
Having proper mitigation done also gives you a better chance of lower home insurance rates, as more insurance companies will be willing to offer you home insurance policies.
The Importance of Defensible Space
Eight hours and many, many piles of tree branches later, our home was considerably safer than it was a day before! In terms of fighting wildfires and protecting your home, creating defensible space is the biggest factor in your home surviving. In many instances, fire departments are forced to abandon a home to the fire if they don’t have enough defensible space to work to protect your home.
No Time Like the Present!
If it’s been a few years (or longer) since you’ve cleaned up around your home, there’s no time like the present! Scan the QR code to learn more about wildfire tips to protect your home, and the Colorado Springs chipping program.
