http://csfs.colostate.edu

Agenda

• Understand WUI
• Understand the HIZ
• Resources
• Selling points
• Insurance
• Next steps

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WUI - Wildland Urban Interface

Home is located in or near the natural vegetation of Colorado’s grasslands, shrublands, foothills or mountains.

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WUI - Wildland Urban Interface

Home is located in or near the natural vegetation of Colorado’s grasslands, shrublands, foothills or mountains.

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Tools - COWRA

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Tools - COWRA

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Tools - CWPP

Community Wildfire Protection Plan

Collaborative, community-driven frameworks that outline local priorities for wildfire risk mitigation.

• County or fire protection district
• Rates each WUI community
• Provides steps to reduce wildfire risk

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Tools – Firewise USA

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http://csfs.colostate.edu

HIZ – Home Ignition Zone

The home and the area around the home [or structure]. The HIZ takes into account both the potential of the structure to ignite and the quality of defensible space surrounding it.

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Methods of Home Ignition

Radiant

Ember Ignition

Surface Fire/

Direct Flame Contact

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Defensible Space

The area around a home [or structure] that has been modified to reduce fire hazard by creating space between potential fuel source.

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NFPA - Structure

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Best Practices Structural Ignitability

Harden Your Home Against the

Threat of Wildfire

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Best Practices Structural Ignitability

Ensure the roof has a Class A fire rating

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Best Practices Structural Ignitability

Remove all leaves, needles and other debris from all decks, roof and gutters

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Best Practices Structural Ignitability

Screen attic, roof, eaves and foundation vents with 1/8-inch metal mesh

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Best Practices Structural Ignitability

Screen or wall-in stilt foundations and decks with 1/8-inch metal mesh

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Best Practices Structural Ignitability

Use tempered glass for windows/ two or more panes are recommended

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Best Practices Structural Ignitability

Create 6 inches of vertical clearance between the ground and home siding

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Best Practices Structural Ignitability

Replace combustible fencing or gates, at least within 5’ of the home

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Defensible Space - Zone 1

Goal: This zone is designed to prevent flames from coming in direct contact with the structure. Use nonflammable, hard surface materials in this zone, such as rock, gravel, sand, cement, bare earth or stone/concrete pavers.

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Defensible Space - Zone 1

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Defensible Space - Zone 1

Remove all flammable vegetation, including shrubs, slash, mulch and other woody debris.

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Defensible Space - Zone 1

Do not store firewood or other combustible materials inside this zone.

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Defensible Space - Zone 1

Prune tree branches hanging over the roof and remove all fuels within 10 feet of the chimney.

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Defensible Space - Zone 1

Regularly remove all pine needles and other debris from the roof, deck and gutters.

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Defensible Space - Zone 1

Rake and dispose of pine needles, dead leaves, mulch and other organic debris within 5’ of all decks and structures. Farther than 5’ from structures, raking material will not significantly reduce the likelihood of ignition and can negatively affect other trees.

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Defensible Space - Zone 1

Do not use space under decks for storage.

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Defensible Space - Zone 2

Goal: This zone is designed to give an approaching fire less fuel, which will help reduce its intensity as it gets nearer to your home or any structures.

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Defensible Space - Zone 2

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Defensible Space - Zone 2

Mow grasses to 4” tall or less.

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Defensible Space - Zone 2

Avoid large accumulations of surface fuels such as logs, branches, slash and mulch.

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Defensible Space - Zone 2

Remove enough trees to create at least 10’ of space between crowns.

Measure from the outermost branch of one tree to the nearest branch on the next tree.

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Defensible Space - Zone 2

Small groups of two or three trees may be left in some areas of Zone 2.

Spacing of 30’ should be maintained between remaining tree groups to ensure fire doesn’t jump from one group to another.

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Defensible Space - Zone 2

Remove ladder fuels under remaining trees.

This is any vegetation that can bring fire from the ground up into taller fuels.

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Defensible Space - Zone 2

Prune tree branches to a height of 6-10’ from the ground or a third of the total height of the tree, whichever is less.

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Defensible Space - Zone 2

Remove stressed, diseased, dead or dying trees and shrubs.

This reduces the amount of vegetation available to burn and improves forest health.

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Defensible Space - Zone 2

Common ground junipers should be removed whenever possible because they are highly flammable and tend to hold a layer of flammable material beneath them.

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Defensible Space - Zone 2

You can keep isolated shrubs in Zone 2, as long as they are not growing under trees.

Keep shrubs at least 10’ away from the edge of tree branches.

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Defensible Space - Zone 2

Periodically prune and maintain shrubs to prevent excessive growth.

Remove dead stems annually.

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Defensible Space - Zone 2

Spacing between clumps of shrubs should be at least 2 1/2 times* their mature height.

Each clump should have a diameter no more than twice the mature height of the vegetation.

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Defensible Space - Zone 3

Goal: This zone focuses on mitigation that keeps fire on the ground, but it’s also a space to make choices that can improve forest health.

If the distance of 100 feet to the edge of Zone 3 stretches beyond your property lines, it’s encouraged to work with adjoining property owners to complete an appropriate defensible space. If your house is on steep slopes or has certain topographic considerations, this zone may be larger.

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Defensible Space - Zone 3

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Defensible Space - Zone 3

Mowing grasses is not necessary in Zone 3.

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Defensible Space - Zone 3

Watch for hazards associated with ladder fuels.

The chance of a surface fire climbing into the trees is reduced in a forest where surface fuels are widely separated and low tree branches are removed.

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Defensible Space - Zone 3

Tree crown spacing of 6-10’ is suggested.

Consider creating openings or meadows between small clumps of trees so fire must transition to the ground to keep moving.

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Defensible Space - Zone 3

Any approved method of slash treatment is acceptable in this zone, including removal, piling and burning, lop and scatter, or mulching.

Lop-and-scatter or mulching treatments should be minimized in favor of treatments that reduce the amount of woody material in the zone.

The farther this material is from the home, the better.

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HIZ - Checklist

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HIZ – Checklist - Firewood

• Keep firewood stacked uphill from (or at the same elevation as) any structures, and keep the woodpile at least 30 feet away from the home.
• Do not stack firewood between remaining trees, underneath the deck or on the deck.
• Remove flammable vegetation within 10 feet of woodpiles.

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HIZ – Checklist – Propane Tanks

• Keep aboveground tanks at least 30’ from the home, preferably on the same elevation as the house.
• Remove flammable vegetation within 10’ of all propane tanks and gas meters.

http://csfs.colostate.edu

HIZ – Checklist – Driveways

• Maintain at least 10’ between tree crowns, thinning them a minimum of 30’ back from each side of the driveway from the house to the main access road.
• Remove ladder fuels beneath trees after thinning.
• Remove any shrubs that are within 10’ of the outer edge of tree crowns.
• Space shrubs apart at least 2 ½ times their mature height, as measured from the edge of the shrubs.
• Post signs at the end of the driveway with your house number that are noncombustible, reflective and easily visible to emergency responders.

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HIZ – Checklist – Driveways

• Post signs at the end of the driveway with your house number that are noncombustible, reflective and easily visible to emergency responders.

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Fuel Types & Arrangements

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Forest Types

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Resources

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Resources

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Resources

• Alamosa, Conejos, Rio Grande, Costilla, Saguache, Mineral
• CSFS Alamosa Field Office – 719-587-0915
• Chaffee & Lake
• CSFS Salida Field Office – 719-539-2579
• Chaffee Chips & Dumpsters
• Title 3 mitigation reimbursement program (Chaffee)
• Free site visits
• Park
• CSFS Woodland Park Field Office – 719-687-2951
• Fremont & Custer
• CSFS Canon City Field Office - 719-275-6865

http://csfs.colostate.edu

Resources

Colorado Realtors Project Wildfire

• https://coloradorealtors.com/coprojectwildfire/

Construction information

• https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/wildfire/firewise-usa/firewise-usa-resources

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Taxes

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Insurance

• Type of construction
• Distance to fire hydrant/water/fire department
• Mitigation efforts taken

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WUI - Implications

• Let customers know the house they are looking at is in the WUI and might have a wildfire hazard
• Let them know there are local resources available to help
• Update websites with resources
• Develop “Wildfire Welcome Packets”
• If needed fund a wildfire consultation post purchase
• Develop program

http://csfs.colostate.edu

http://csfs.colostate.edu