Keller Williams Scott Kurlander

Be smart during a dry season

ummertime is full of outdoor fun for everyone, but how do responsible recreation and lifestyle choices align with living in a region experiencing a drought? Fortunately, many resources are available to guide communities.

Southwest Colorado is blessed with seasoned fire management professionals, and their recommendations and guidelines are the best place to start. Exercising caution, whether on public lands or private property, is the most important. Many wildfires begin on private property. However, they often spread far beyond to public lands.

Understand how to extinguish outdoor fires. Carry the appropriate measures, such as fire extinguishers. Smoldering fires are among the leading causes of wildfire

Sas the wind can carry embers far away. Know the current fire restrictions. In addition to limitations in the National Forest, these restrictions are designed to keep you safe while on private property. When living in an area that wildfire could impact, being ready makes all the difference. It’s essential to have a property prepared for fire, but it’s also critical to be prepared to leave the home quickly. Although frightening, evacuation orders need to be followed, and the more prepared you are, the less stressful it will be. Secondarily, make sure you are signed up with CodeRed to receive instant alerts of public emergency notifications regarding evacuation notices and more.

Local Fire Safety Resources

CodeRED registration

https://public.coderedweb.com/ CNE/en-US/BFB7CC4C6C0A

San Juan Forest fire danger and restrictions

www.fs.usda.gov/sanjuan

Protecting home and property from wildfire

https://csfs.colostate.edu/wildfire-mitigation/ protect-your-home-property-from-wildfire/

Ongoing wildfire incident updates

https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/?state=08

Fire safety tips from Smokey the Bear

https://smokeybear.com Property Preparedness

While the list of property preparedness tasks may seem daunting at first, simply doing what you can over time is well worth it.

Minimize structural ignitability by removing pine needles from gutters and other areas, covering vents and inlets to the attic and other places in ⅛-inch metal mesh, and implementing fire-related upgrades to doors, roofs and windows.

Create a defensible space around the home by following professional guidelines. This will target different areas based on structure proximity, including relocating firewood and clearing brush. Evacuation Plan

In the event you’re ordered to evacuate, preparation is paramount. Although firefighters will do their best, evacuations can happen quickly, so practice your plan ahead of time.

Have an emergency kit in your home or in the vehicle that includes water, food, first aid, masks or face coverings (for smoke), an escape route map, flashlights etc.

Create ‘go bags’ for each family member, including pets. These will have the supplies needed to stay with friends, family, in a hotel or shelter. Make sure to include unique personal supplies, medications being one of the most important.

Prioritize what documents and valuables you need or want to take with you, such as birth certificates and heirlooms.

Have a list of what needs to turn off/close or leave on/open if you leave, for instance, leaving padlocked gates open but turning off propane tanks.

Proper preparedness helps reduce wildfire damage, and we can all do our part to improve the safety of our families, neighbors, and courageous firefighters. n