The Envision Forest Health Council offers advice for Chaffee County residents isolated at home due to the COVID-19 virus to prepare for another threat.

Property owners can follow simple steps to protect their homes, properties and forests from wildfire.

“Right now is the perfect time to get ready for the fire season,” said J.T. Shaver, a forester with the Salida Field Office of the Colorado State Forest Service.

Preparation is especially recommended for homes located in the wildland-urban interface (WUI), where structures meet and intermingle with natural vegetation such as grasslands, shrub lands and pine or piñon forests.

Simple suggestions are as follows:
• Make sure firewood is stacked 30 feet away from your structure

.• Clear roof, deck and gutters of pine needles and other debris. 

• Rake all pine needles and debris away from the foundation of your home. 

• Mow grass and weeds to a height of 6 inches or less.

• Dispose of any slash from tree/shrub thinning.

• Make sure you have a reflective address sign posted.

By taking steps to create “defensible zones,” homes are less vulnerable and the chance of spreading wildfires is greatly reduced, Shaver said. “These initial steps are pretty simple and a few can even be done with your kids.”
Taking further steps to create “defensible zones” can give your home a fighting chance against an approaching wildfire, Shaver said. To learn more, view a Colorado State Forest Service Quick Guide online.

The Envision Forest Health Council is a group of Chaffee County leaders dedicated to reducing wildfire danger by implementing the Community Wildfire Protection Plan. The plan maps where to treat both public and private lands to cut the risk wildfire poses to community assets in half by 2030. Contact info@envisionchaffeecounty.org for more information.

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Dan R

Danny “Dan R” Ridenour has been in radio and television broadcasting for over 40 years, starting as a senior in high school in Rogers, Arkansas. His radio career has had stops in Nashville, Memphis, Oklahoma, and eventually, Colorado. Dan enjoys being involved in the community, having been a member of the Upper Arkansas Service Club and is currently on the board of directors for the Salida Community Center and is a member of the Chaffee County Fair Committee. He and his wife Carrie spend their days doing everything the mountains have to offer: hiking, camping, fishing and skiing. They've raised 3 children and have 2 grandchildren.

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