Irene Shonle, CSU Extension Gilpin County. There were three large fires in Colorado just recently – the 117 fire west of Colorado Springs (burned 65 square miles and 23 homes, and is now contained), the Badger Hole fire burned an estimated 50,568 acres, with 33,609 in Colorado and 17,249 in Kansas with multiple homes, outbuildings, livestock and infrastructure losses and the Skipper Island fire, which burned over 200 acres and shut down I-70 near Fruita.

Trees in Gilpin and Boulder Counties showed signs of drought stress last year in the spring and are already showing some signs this year. All of this points to the possibility of an above-average wildfire season this year, and we must all be ready.

It was great to see a full house of about 100 people attend the fire preparedness meeting on April 21 – if you attended, please share what you learned with your neighbors, and if you didn’t, here are some tips to help prepare you.

Tips for reducing the chances that your house will burn:

• Remove all conifers within 30 feet of any part of a home or other structure, including decks.

  Place gravel or non-combustible materials in the first 3-5 feet of the house to prevent a creeping grass fire from catching your house on fire.

  Reduce the density of standing trees within 100-200 feet of all structures by thinning to 20’ between tree crowns or making patch cuts between small stands of lodgepole.

  Make sure your driveway is at least 12 feet wide and clear to a height of 15’.

  Make sure your address is posted and easily visible to emergency responders; preferably with a reflective metal sign – call 303-582-5768 to get yours.

  At least once in the spring, clear pine needles and leaves from gutters and decks, and trim overhanging branches. If there is a nearby fire, repeat this process.

  Stack firewood and locate propane tanks at least 30 feet from and uphill of structures.

  Review your insurance policy to make sure you are adequately covered.

  Tips for evacuation:

  Have an evacuation plan and a designated meeting place that all family members are familiar with. Designate an out-of-area person that can receive family messages if communications are down locally.

  Make a list of important things you would like to take (documents, photos, art work, etc) in the event of an evacuation, and post the list so you can find it easily. If a fire is nearby, start gathering these items.

  Prepare a “grab and go” disaster kit with necessary family/pet items including important clothing, medications, food/water, phone charger, etc. so you are ready for immediate departure.

  Make sure you are signed up for Code Red emergency notification so you can be called in the event of an emergency. Sign up through the Gilpin Sheriff’s website.

The CSU Gilpin County Extension Office is located at the Exhibit Barn, 230 Norton Drive, Black Hawk, CO 80422, 303-582-9106, www.gilpin.extension.colostate.edu. Colorado State University Extension provides unbiased, research-based information about, horticulture, natural resources, and 4-H youth development. Colorado State University Extension is dedicated to serving all people on an equal and nondiscriminatory basis.