Today’s forest health outreach update covers the following topics:
**Fire Ban**
*Forestry Tip of the Day: Actions to take this Weekend
*Report: National Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook
*Reminder: Free Insurance Workshop: Is Your Mountain Home Properly Insured? – June 25
*Nederland Sort Yard is Open for Free Slash and Log Disposal – Last Day July 6

** Fire Ban**
The entire mountain area of Boulder County is under a fire ban. No open fires or fireworks are allowed. Help us keep Boulder County free from wildfires this summer. See details here: http://www.bouldercounty.org/apps/newsroom/templates/bc12.aspx?articleid=3643&zoneid=2

*Forestry Tip of the Day: Actions to take this Weekend 
Forestry Tip of the Day: Happy summer Solstice! Summer sure has arrived in a hurry. Today, we thought we would highlight a couple of tasks we recommend everyone take this weekend.

• Cut your grass. Look outside your window, how tall is your grass? Get outside this weekend and cut all grass to a max height of 6 inches within 30 feet of all structures and along driveways. For added protection weed whip under prized trees that are beyond 30 feet and along roadways.  This task is especially important this year since the grasses are so tall from all that spring snow/rain. Be very careful when mowing it can cause sparks. Make sure to have long hose nearby.
• Create a 3-5 feet non-combustible perimeter around all structures. Grab a rake and weedwhip and make sure the first three to five feet outside of your home is completely free of all pine needles, grasses, shrubs, firewood piles, lumber and anything else that is flammable. Taking this action gives your home a final line of defense against an approaching wildfire. If you don’t currently have an ignition-resistant perimeter (crushed gravel, pavers, flagstone etc.) installed, just rake down to bare mineral soil. Pay special attention under decks, where steps meet the ground and areas where wood siding is close to the ground.
• Check and clean gutters of all pine needles. Have you been up the ladder to check lately? I just checked my house and was surprised to find a big pile of pine needles in one of my gutters. The needles are gone now.

More tips and wildfire mitigation outreach videos are available on our Wildfire Mitigation Educational website here:http://www.bouldercounty.org/property/forest/pages/defensiblespace.aspx 

*Report: National Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook
We thought folks might be interested in reading about the wildfire outlook for the summer. This report is put out monthly by the National Interagency Fire Center. Read it here:http://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/outlooks/monthly_seasonal_outlook.pdf 

*Reminder: Free Insurance Workshop: Is Your Mountain Home Properly Insured? – June 25
Did you know that 60% of the homes lost in the Fourmile Fire were underinsured? Learn how to properly insure your home and be prepared in case of natural disasters.

When: Tuesday, June 25 – 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Where: Coal Creek Community Center, 31528 Highway 72, Golden, CO
Program Description:

• Hear lessons learned from Fourmile Fire Survivors.
• Receive tips from United Policyholders’ Roadmap to Preparedness Program (www.uphelp.org).
• Understand if your insurance policy accurately reflects the real cost of rebuilding in the mountains west of Boulder.
• Pick up practical ways your family can be prepared in the case of a natural disaster.

To learn more now, check out this insurance video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMNtIzlTsbg. Other great insurance resources are available athttp://bouldermountainresources.org/resources/insurance/.

*Nederland Sort Yard is Open for Slash and Log Disposal – Last day July 6

• Nederland Sort Yard: Now open 5 days per week thru July 6. This south county site will reopen in the Fall on a limited 8 day Friday/Saturday schedule.
• Allenspark Sort Yard: Currently closed. Scheduled to reopen on July 30.

For complete details about our sort yard program including hours of operation, location and operational schedule visit:http://www.bouldercounty.org/property/forest/pages/fhsortyards.aspx

Cheers,
Ryan

Ryan Ludlow | Forestry Education & Outreach Coordinator 
Boulder County | Land Use Department
O: 720.564.2641 | F: 303.441.4856
rludlow@nullbouldercounty.org | www.bouldercounty.org/ForestHealth
*Please visit our website to sign-up to receive emails about forestry workshops, community meetings, bark beetle management tips and more!