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Phone: 970-627-7121

Fall Fire Safety & Mitigation Tips

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Grand County Wildfire Council (GCWC) is here to help residents and visitors of Grand
County prevent, prepare, and survive wildfire through collaboration, education and
action. Check out more information at bewildfireready.org

We recently passed the four-year anniversary of the East Troublesome Fire blowup, and
we cannot let our guard down regarding wildfire risk and mitigation!

 

Fire Safety Tips for EVERYONE!

We encourage all residents and visitors to follow these fire safety tips:

  • Always call 911 to report a fire
  • Stay updated on changing weather conditions by following the US National Weather Service Denver/Boulder Colorado
  • Know What a Red Flag Warning Means: Wildfires may start and spread rapidly due to dry vegetation, gusty winds, and low humidity. Avoid any activity that may create a spark and start a wildfire. Be ready to act should a wildfire start nearby and/or evacuation orders are given.
  • Sign up to receive emergency notifications on your cell phone: CodeRED alerts through the Grand County Office of Emergency Management
  • Familiarize yourself with the Grand County Evacuation Map

 

Mitigation Actions in Fall

Though winter is approaching, the time for wildfire mitigation is not over. In reality,
now is a critical time for mitigation because the lush green vegetation of summer is now
standing dead kindling. GCWC suggests homeowners take the following actions on their
property:

  • Remove combustible items from under decks
  • Mow grass to 4” or less within 30 feet of your home
  • Create a debris-free and non-combustible perimeter within 5 feet of the home
  • Move firewood piles at least 30 feet away from the home until there's more snow on the ground
  • Prune trees and shrubs and remove “ladder fuels” (lower limbs and tall grasses under trees)
  • Give your evergreen trees a drink, BUT junk the juniper bushes
  • Prepare for burn season by building your slash piles (Slash Pile Construction Guide)
  • Work on “Home Hardening” Projects
    • WINDOWS: Install metal screens
    • VENTS: Install metal mesh screens that are 1/8-inch or less to prevent ember entry and ignition from the inside out
    • GARAGE: Install weather stripping around & under vehicle access doors. Do not store combustibles or flammable liquids near combustion equipment (e.g. a hot water heater)
    • CHIMNEY: Cover chimney and stovepipe outlets with a noncombustible screen of 1⁄4-inch wire mesh to reduce size/energy of embers leaving the chimney.
  • Check out the Ultimate Wildfire Guide for Grand County for additional wildfire preparation tips.


Halloween Advice

Halloween is just around the corner. When considering your outdoor Halloween
decorations, please consider these warnings to prevent accidental wildfires:

  • Use battery-operated candles rather than wax candles
  • If using wax candles:
    • Do not put jack-o-lanterns on the ground by combustibles (dead grass, leaves, shrubs)
    • Extinguish lit jack-o-lanterns before going to bed
  • Use LED options for outdoor decorations
  • Rake fallen leaves away from lit or mechanical decorations


Get Involved in GCWC

If getting more involved in wildfire preparedness countywide sparks your interest, check
out our website further and sign up for our monthly newsletter.