Greetings and Happy March!
As I type this letter, Colorado is receiving notifications about snow squalls. A day before, we were sitting under “Red Flag” warnings. Colorado definitely experiences March coming in like a lion. However, I will say that it rarely goes out like a lamb. After all, we know we could have a blizzard one day and a forest fire the next.
As we start seeing more daylight, temperatures creeping higher, and our instincts begging to go outside, I want to discuss steps to prepare for Colorado's extreme weather patterns. For our visitors and new residents, please know that you can go through multiple “seasons” as you drive through our State. We can have snow, hail, sleet, and ice in March, April, and May. (I’ll stop there and avoid discussing mountain weather or our surprise snowstorms.) Please don’t take out your snow kits or remove your snow tires too early. It’s tempting to throw all the snow gear into the closet for next year, but you will probably need them for a couple more months. Plus, Spring snow sports are excellent in our beautiful state.
Spring is also a time when a quick storm and changing temperatures can have us falsely guessing that ice is just wet pavement.
I can attest to the fact that slips can happen to anyone. I am sure my neighbor has footage of my figure skating failure on their camera.
From discussing snow and ice, now let’s talk about what we can do to prepare for wildfires. Three million Coloradans live within the wildland-urban interface. Spring brings a great opportunity to get outside and work to make our homes safer.
- Remove all leaves, needles, and other debris from all decks, roofs, and gutters.
- Screen attic, roof, eaves, and foundation vents with 1/8-inch metal mesh.
- Screen or wall-in stilt foundations and decks with 1/8-inch metal mesh.
- Use tempered glass for windows; two or more panes are recommended.
- Create 6 inches of vertical clearance between the ground and home siding.
- Replace combustible fencing or gates, at least within 5 feet of the home.
The good news is that the DFPC has a home-hardening grant to help support these efforts financially. The small grants are not for landscape wildfire mitigation but instead to make homes more resistant to wildfires. We expect to release the application by mid-March, so keep an eye out!
For more information from the Colorado State Forest Service on wildfire mitigation, please go to: https://csfs.colostate.edu/wildfire-mitigation/
Would you like to know about your wildfire risk?