Wildfire Preparedness in the City of Longmont. Are you ready?

The wildland fire season is becoming a year-round reality in Colorado. Locally we have seen recent examples of this such as the Lefthand and Cal-Wood Fire’s, the NCAR Fire and the Marshall Fire. These fires strain local resources and emphasizes the need for city residents to remain proactive and prepared for the threat of wildfire.

Burn Probability

CSFS Wildfire Risk Viewer. The map is provided from Colorado State Forest Service’s Wildfire Risk Viewer. The map is designed to increase wildfire awareness and provide a view of wildfire risk.

Fortunately, most of the city has low burn probability. However the risk for wildfire still exists.

Areas west of the city have very high burn probability. In these areas, large expanses of vegetation allow for rapid movement of fire that we do not see within the City.

It is important to note that while the probability is high, most fires are extinguished at a very small size. The Marshall Fire (December 2021) combined an area of higher probability with extreme weather and limited moisture to cause the conflagration that involved fire spread from home to home. Fortunately, this combination of events is rare and the overall risk in the City limits is low.

Home Ignition Zone

It is important to understand what you can do to reduce risk, create defensible space, and be prepared to evacuate your home if needed.

The Home Ignition Zone is considered the area around the home (or structure)

Methods of Home Ignition

1. Ember ignition. Embers are small pieces of burning material that can be transported by wind for more than a mile ahead of the fire front. Embers can vary greatly in size and can ignite new fires on any ignitable surface they touch, such as grass or even a wooden deck. Ember ignition is most concerning during high winds.
2. Direct Flame Contact. If fuels are directly next to your home or structure, direct flame contact can ignite the structure. By mitigating and removing fuels within 5 feet of your home, especially near windows, doors and under decks helps to minimize this possibility.
3. Radiant Heat. Radiant heat transfer can ignite your home or adjacent structures, too. This radiant heat can be from a crown fire in the tree tops or an adjacent home or structure, such as shed or garage, that has caught fire.

Reduce Risk and Create Defensible Space

IMMEDIATE ZONE: 0-5 feet from your home or property line

INTERMEDIATE ZONE: 5-30 feet around you home or property line

EXTENDED ZONE: 30-200 feet around your home or property line

HOME IGNITION ZONE CHECKLIST

• Clean roofs and gutters of debris, pine needles and leaves; remove any branches that overhang roof or chimney
• Mow grass and weeds to 4 inches or less
• Move any flammable material from within 5 feet of your foundation, exterior walls and decks (such as pine needles, leaves, fire wood, plants and grasses)
• Remove anything stored under decks or porches
• Clean debris from exterior attic vents; install 1/8 inch metal mesh screening to reduce embers entering
• Replace or repair any loose or missing shingles and/ or roof tiles to prevent ember penetration
• Replace or repair any damaged or loose window or door screens, any broken windows, and install weather proofing around garage door
• Keep propane tanks 30 feet from your home and remove any flammable material from within 10 feet of the tank

Additional resources:

Boulder OEM includes maps to show evacuation areas and to view recent alerts in Boulder County.

Residents must sign up for Reverse Emergency Notifications for mobile devices. Residents will then receive location based notifications for emergencies. Landlines automatically receive reverse notification.These devices will then also receive location based alerts for flash flood and tornadoes. Reverse notifications are made to notify residents about immediate threats to health and safety, such as: • Wildfire • Hazardous spills • At-risk missing persons • Other dangerous situations or emergencies.

BE PREPARED to evacuate with Ready, Set, GO!

• READY - Sign up for emergency notifications
  • Create a family disaster plan.
  • Educate yourself about wildland fire and/or Be Ready Longmont
  • Designate a meeting area outside the fire hazard area
  • Create your “go bag” and emergency supply kit
    • Extra glasses or contact lenses
    • Prescriptions and medications
    • For pets, include food, water, and medications
    • Personal electronic devices with chargers
    • Extra set of house and car keys
    • Credit cards and cash
    • Important family documents, photos, and insurance documents (consider scanning these to make a digital copy and keep on a flash drive) ‣
    • Easily carried irreplaceable and valuable items
• SET • Prep and secure: close windows and doors, leave exterior lights on, consider moving combustible items (grill, patio furniture, fire wood) from the exterior of your home to the center of the lawn
  • Alert family and neighbors, initiate family disaster plan • Evacuate as soon as you are set, or when you are notified. If you feel concerned for your safety DO NOT delay evacuation by waiting for notification
• GO! • When to leave: do not wait to be advised to leave if you do not feel safe. If advised to leave, follow your family disaster plan and do so quickly • Where to go: go to your pre-determined location based on your family disaster plan or check BoulderOEM.com for shelter locations • What to take: bring your go bag

For additional information please email.