Wildfires. Are you Ready?

It seems like every year there’s a major wildfire in Colorado. Learn how you can protect your family and home –including pets and livestock — or your business before there is a fire. Start preparing for an emergency now! We’re prepared. You should be, too. Safety is a shared responsibility. Not sure where to start? Sign up for Douglas County Code Red, NextDoor, Twitter, and PulsePoint emergency notification, register your gate codes and come up with an escape plan. View current fire restrictions in unincorporated Douglas County.

What can citizens do?

Sign up for CodeRED, including every family member with a cell phone.
Create or update your family evacuation plan (important items to take, multiple routes out of your neighborhood, family reunification point outside of your neighborhood, etc.)
Revisit your homeowners insurance (correct coverage value, actual value vs. full replacement coverage, cataloguing items, hotel/rental policies, etc.)

Are you located in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Risk area? View the WUI map and see if your community is at high risk for wildfires.

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:

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 house
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

For more information watch Your Home and Wildfire. Choices That Can Make a Difference.

The County’s main slash-mulch site, at 1400 Caprice Drive in Castle Rock is open Saturdays only from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Oct. 30. For more information, directions, and a list of acceptable items visit Slash Mulch.

Wildfire mitigation and risk reduction on your property

To request a free wildfire hazard assessment on your personal property contact the County’s Certified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist at 303-660-7497 or [email protected]. 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.

Disaster Management

The Douglas County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) monitors for emergency conditions in unincorporated Douglas County and is the main hub for coordination of disaster management and emergency preparedness.

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