Local authorities watch for new wildfires Monday

With several wildfires burning in Colorado, local authorities are reminding the public of the importance of mitigating properties for protection against fire damage.

Homeowners near Stratton Open Space in southwest Colorado Springs need no convincing, after receiving a scare from a wildfire in January 2015 that was sparked by a child playing with a lighter.

On Monday, perhaps with current fires in mind, many neighbors were out early, mitigating their properties.

“We pay someone to do it because the work is too hard for us,” said Margot DeVita while standing beside her husband, Joe. “We do what we can to mitigate our property, but one of our neighbors doesn’t. And that neighbor has trees very close to our house.”

Firefighters are particularly concerned about the wildland-urban interface, generally west of Interstate 25 in Colorado Springs, where there are many homes near trees and other vegetation that could fuel wildfires.

Firefighters recommend that homes in such areas have defensible space at least 30 feet around them so that potential fuels are mitigated, or removed, for fire prevention and to give firefighters room to work if needed.

Homes and property in mountainous or rural areas can be vulnerable to wildfires as well.

The Colorado Springs Fire Department has a program called Firewise. In the program, homeowners request a visit from a firefighter who offers suggestions on mitigating property.

Participants also can have branches and other mitigation debris hauled away for free.

“We do about 14 visits a week,” said Jeremy Taylor, a Firewise coordinator. “The debris removal is a service that’s not available to the general public.”

Taylor emphasized that mitigation is an ongoing process that should be done several times annually to maintain the highest level of protection.

In a related development, the Colorado Springs Fire Department called in several firefighters to work on wildfire patrols after a red flag warning was issued for the city Monday afternoon.

Officials said the patrols are responsible for Firewise education, as well as responding to brush fires, and they will operate on a day-to-day basis depending on weather conditions and staffing.

Officials also said several firefighters are assisting with the wildfire burning at Fort Carson.

Visit KRDO’s “Hot Button” for a link to more information about the Firewise program.