Today’s Forest Health Outreach Update covers the following topics:
* Forest Stewardship Tip of the Day: More Tips on Wildfire Mitigation
* During an emergency check www.BoulderOEM.com for the latest info.

Forest Stewardship Tip of the Day: More Tips on Wildfire Mitigation
Forestry Tip of the Day: The Flagstaff fire is currently burning on the backside of the Flatirons and many larger fires are burning throughout the State. Hundreds of homes have already been lost in what could become one of the worst fire seasons in Colorado’s history.  There are fundamental properties that have to be met in order for a home to ignite during a passing wildfire. There is a plethora of research available that strongly suggests that if you implement proactive wildfire mitigation on your land you can greatly increase the likelihood of your home surviving the next fire. 

Suggested Proactive Wildfire Mitigation Actions:
* Have you removed most if not all conifer trees and shrubs from within 30 feet of your home? The latest wildland fire research suggests that 30 feet is the critical distance needed to help protect your home from direct flame contact and radiant heat. By removing these trees you will also create a safer location for Fire Fighters to be able to defend your home. If you would like a few trees closer to the home you can encourage aspens or plant other deciduous trees within about 15 feet.
* Have you removed the lowest branches on all mature trees within about 100 feet of your home? Ideally all larger sized conifers should be “low limbed” to a height of 10 feet or more. This height is measured from the ground to where the branches reach down to. The goal is to make it difficult for a grass fire to climb the lowest tree branches and jump into the tops of your trees. It is always a good idea to begin limbing closest to your home first and work in concentric circles out.
* Have you mowed all grass underneath large trees AND raked pine needles away from the base of all mature trees? Rake away all pine needles so that bare mineral soil is exposed. If you are on a steep slope with erosion issues you may want to leave about an inch of pine needles on the ground. Both of these actions can help keep a grass fire from climbing the trunk of the tree.
Below are a few more tips that we sent out in past emails:
* Do you have 3-5 feet of space surrounding all sides of your house and deck cleared of everything flammable (this includes, pine needles, grasses, wood piles, scrap lumber – basically anything that can start on fire from direct flame contact or ember showers).
*Have you cut all grass to a height of less than 6 inches within 30 feet (or more) of your home?
* Have you cleaned your gutters and roofs of flammable debris?
* Have you moved everything flammable from on top of and under your deck (flammable rugs, dog beds, fluffy cushions, brooms, kids toys, fire wood, scrape lumber etc. etc.)?
* Is your firewood pile located 30 feet or more from all structures?

Visit the Colorado State Forest Services wildfire mitigation webpage for more info: http://csfs.colostate.edu/pages/wf-protection.html
Why is this important??  You can greatly increase the likelihood of your home surviving the next fire if you take precautionary action.

During an emergency check www.BoulderOEM.com for the latest info.
Info posted from the Boulder’s Office of Emergency Management webpage:
If you haven’t already please visit www.BoCo911Alert.com to sign up to receive emergency notification. You will receive time-sensitive messages wherever you specify, such as your home, cell, or business phone, email, text messages, hearing impaired receiving devices, and more. You pick where, you pick how.

During an emergency please visit the Boulder Office of Emergency Management at www.BoulderOEM.com for the latest information. Boulder OEM also has online resources available that we encourage you to utilize before, during and after an emergency.
Boulder Office of Emergency Management Emergency Preparedness Resources:
* Disaster Planning: http://boulderoem.com/disaster-planning
* Emergency Kit Checklist: http://boulderoem.com/emergency-kit-checklist
* Be Informed: http://boulderoem.com/being-informed
* Emergency Preparedness Guide (5 MB): http://boulderoem.com/files/BCE-OEM-EPG-final_2-16-12.pdf (see p. 23-27 for info specific to Wildland Fire Preparedness)

Stay safe out there,
Ryan

Ryan Ludlow | Forestry Education & Outreach Coordinator 
Boulder County | Land Use Department
P.O. Box 471, Boulder CO 80306
O: 720.564.2641 | F: 303.441.4856
rludlow@nullbouldercounty.org | www.bouldercounty.org/ForestHealth
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management tips and more!