Create a Defensible Space 

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Defensible space is essential to improve your home's chances of surviving a wildfire.  It's the buffer you create between your home and the flammable vegetation, like trees, grass and shrubs around your home.  

Defensible Space Zones 

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Three zones make up the recommended 100 feet of defensible space.  

IMMEDIATE ZONE
0-5 feet around your home 

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The goal is to make this a non-combustible area.

• Create a noncombustible 5 feet border around your home
• Remove all pine needles, dead leaves and plants
• No flammable shrubs or overhanging tree branches
• Replace flammable mulch with gravel or rock

INTERMEDIATE ZONE 
5-30 feet around your home 

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The goal is to reduce flammable materials near your home. 

• Use fire-resistant plants and shrubs
• Use low-grow, drought-resistant grasses and keep grass mowed to 4"
• Remove Conifers, Junipers and Gamble Oak trees that are within 15 feet of your home.  
• No shrubs or small trees underneath taller trees. 

EXTENDED ZONE
30-100 feet around your home 

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The goal is to reduce heat and movement of flame. 

• Firewood stored at least 30' feet away from home - even further if your home is on a slope
• Reduce heavy accumulations of slash (dead branches, twigs, pine needles, etc.). 
• Strategically remove flammable plants like Rocky Mountain Juniper, Cypress, Gambel or Scrub Oak, Pinyon Pines
• Prune limbs of trees at least 10 feet or 1/3 the height of the tree, whichever is less
• Trees should be spaced out at least 10 feet between each tree's outermost branches -even more if your home is on a steep slope. 
• No shrubs or small trees underneath taller trees.  

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Fire intensity can be increased if your property has steep slopes and a dense forest.  If these conditions are present, you should consult with a qualified wildfire and forestry professional.  

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Download This Important Guide

​Colorado State Forestry
​Home Ignition Zones 

Download Now

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Important Steps You Can Take to Create Defensible Space. 

Eliminate Ladder Fuels 

A wildfire is easier to deal with if it remains on the ground.   When a surface fire ignites, small trees and shrubs under larger trees can create a ladder for fire to spread into the upper branches of a large tree.  Wildfires that are carried in tops of large trees are referred to as crown fires and are much harder to contain.    To help interrupt the spread of wildfire, eliminate small trees or shrubs that are located underneath larger trees.  

Maintain at Least 10' of Crown Spacing - more if you are on a slope 

The crown of a tree is the widest area of a tree.      To help slow the spread of wildfire, it's critical to have enough spacing between trees to reduce the threat of crown fires.    Experts recommend a spacing of a minimum of 10' between the widest part of trees.   If you live on a slope,  the suggested spacing can be 20' or more.      

Use Fire-Resistant Landscaping 

Remember, any plant can burn under the right conditions.  One way to help reduce your wildfire risk is to use fire-resistant landscaping around your home.  

Look for plants with these characteristics:

• Able to store water in the leaves and stems
  
• Maintain high moisture content with limited watering
  
• Drought tolerant
  
• Low levels of volatile oils or resins
  
• Product limited dead materials
  
• Remove any dead portions of fire resistant plants.  

Learn More

Vegetation Near Power Lines?

​If you have any vegetation that is too close to power lines, touches power lines, transformers or other electrical equipment it is important that you reach out to your local utility provider.   Most likely, your local utility will mitigate the vegetation free of charge.   
 
CORE Electric Cooperative 

• Call Customer Service at (800)-332-9540 to report any vegetation that touches or is near electrical equipment. 
• Report any dead trees (completely brown with no leaves or losing needles) or trees that appear to have rot and insect damage that are tall enough to hit power lines if they fall. 
• Do NOT attempt to trim or clear vegetation near CORE equipment – CORE will mitigate free of charge. 
• If CORE cuts down a tree, it will be the property owners’ responsibility to remove the tree once it is on the ground.  

 
Xcel Energy 

• Call Customer Service at (800)-895-4999 to report any vegetation that touches lines or is near electrical equipment
• Do NOT attempt to trim or clear vegetation near Xcel equipment – Xcel will mitigate free of charge. 
• If limbs and brush are pruned by Xcel, the brush may be left on your curbside and hauled away by a separate crew within a few days. 
• If a tree is cut down by Xcel, larger pieces of wood are cut into manageable lengths and left on the homeowner’s property.  

Learn More in these helpful Videos  

Colorado State University Extension 
​Home Hardening & Defensible Space 

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Guide for property owners to build effective defensible space 

National Fire Protection Association -
Your Home Can Survive a Wildfire 

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