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Wildfires

Be Proactive: Community Protection

Wildfire safety is a shared responsibility. We’ve asked you to do your part in protecting your property, and we are prepared to do the same on county land.

Community protection comes from a collaborative planning effort with a diverse group of stakeholders including local governments, the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS), local fire protection districts, and community members. The effort identifies and prioritizes measures to protect life, property, and critical infrastructure in the wildland urban interface (WUI) during a wildfire event.

Let's prevent wildfires together.

Defensible Space

Firefighters always do their best to reduce fire damage, but ultimately, it is your responsibility to protect your property from wildfire. Take practical steps to prepare your home.

Natural Resources and Forest Management

The Douglas County Wildfire Mitigation Staff plans, prepares, and implements forest management and natural resources stewardship projects on county-owned open space lands.

Wildfire Cost Sharing

Douglas County’s Wildfire Mitigation Cost-Sharing Program will help residents and communities mitigate private land against the risk of wildfire.

Wildfire Action Collaborative

The Douglas County Wildfire Action Collaborative exists to facilitate innovative approaches for bolstering community wildfire resilience among regional partner agencies.

Community Wildfire Protection Plan

Leaders from the wildfire suppression, mitigation, and forest management professions within Douglas County developed a county-wide Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP).

Aerial Support

To ensure the County’s air support readiness during wildfire season, the Board of Douglas County Commissioners approved a contract for 183 days of exclusive use of a Type 2 helicopter capable of delivering 300 gallons of water to the front lines of a wildfire.

Wildfire mitigation and risk reduction on your property

Being a responsible homeowner also means being ready for any wildfire that could occur near you.  Here are some proactive steps you can take to protect your own property right now:

  • Landscape with low-flammability plants
  • Make sure your gutters and roof valleys are free of pine needles, leaves, and debris
  • Mow grasses regularly, keep the grass short and well-watered to hinder the spread of flames
  • Space out trees and shrubs, making it harder for flames to travel and easier for firefighters to work
  • Prune branches to prevent flames from jumping from branches to your home
  • Seal off openings such as pet doors and attics with screens to prevent embers from getting through
  • If you have a wooden roof, improve it with fire-resistant ceramic tiles, slate or composite shingles, or metal sheets
  • Don’t leave flammable material such as trash, lawn furniture, or propane tanks against the outside of your home or under decks
  • Make sure not to mulch near your house or plant shrubs up against the exterior of your home
  • Use this annual maintenance checklist to make sure your property is properly maintained

To request a free wildfire hazard assessment on your personal property contact the County’s Certified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist at 303-660-7497 or jwelle@douglas.co.us.  If a significant wildfire hazard is identified, a Wildfire Mitigation or Forest Management Plan is required prior to the issuance of building permits within the development.

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