“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” — Benjamin Franklin

Colorado Springs includes geographic areas that are designated Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) areas. These are transitional areas where undeveloped wildlands meet areas of human development and infrastructure.

Neighborhoods in the WUI are deemed to be at higher risk of wildfires due to topography and ignitable vegetation. While the risk of wildfire cannot be eliminated in these areas, the risk to human safety and loss of structures can be reduced by active wildfire mitigation measures. If you are wondering if you live in a WUI, you can find out at coswildfireready.org.

Wildfire mitigation risks fall into two general categories: structure hardening and fuel management.

This article focuses managing vegetation in the home garden that have fuel potential. Fuel management incorporates planting, pruning and maintenance decisions. It is useful to think of your landscape in three zones, Zone 1 is the first 5 feet surrounding your home. Zone 2 is from 5 feet to 30 feet. Zone 3 is the area 30 feet to 100 feet.

Zone 1 is a great place for hardscaping, perhaps pathways or fire-resistant plants like low growing ground covers, or succulents, that have a high water content and a low resin content.

Zone 2 should focus primarily on deciduous species, flowering plants, turf and ground covers. Brush patches should be grouped in areas no larger than 100 square feet, at least 10 feet apart from other plantings.

Zone 3 is outside of the safety zone designated by Colorado Springs zoning requirements. Mitigation in this zone is focused on keeping potential fire on the ground through reducing ladder fuels and spacing trees to reduce the chance of crown fires.

While all plants can burn, ignition temperatures vary greatly. Deciduous vegetation and plants with high moisture content are considered more fire resistant.

Conifers and Gambel (scrub) oak are extremely ignitable. Conifers have a high oil/resin content and are very flammable. Conifers, even a low-growing species, should not be grown in Zone 1 and are not recommended for Zone 2.

Proximity to windows risks heat from a burning shrub breaking window glass, allowing fire into your home. While Gambel oak is deciduous, it quickly forms thickets and creates a very dry, dense leaf litter. Both conifers and Gambel oak should be planted at least 30 feet from the residence, with limbs at least 15 feet away. In addition to the distance these species should not have branches that overlap, if they are mature trees is best to prune them up to 10 feet off the ground. Avoid planting shorter vegetation under the trees as you can inadvertently create fire ladders, a path for the fire from the ground to the trees.

It may be difficult on small lots to meet the 30-foot requirement, native trees, and ornamental trees may exist closer than the ideal spacing. These trees may provide important benefits to wildlife and provide shade and privacy in your landscape. Pruning can help manage these risks significantly.

 Rake leaves and pine needles in autumn. You may have to repeat in spring but the risk reduction is worth it. Cut back ornamental grasses to 4 inches if they are within 15 feet of the home. If you have firewood piles locate them as far from structures as possible. If there are weedy areas, mow or trim them back to 4 inches. 

If you are concerned about your wildfire risk and you live in the WUI contact COS Wildfire Ready (719-385-7493) and schedule a home visit to assess your risk and determine what steps are advisable. If you are in the WUI, you cannot really control when a wildfire may start, but you can reduce the risk of losing your home.

Submit gardening questions via ask.extension.org or call 719-520-7684. The in-person help desk is closed for the season. Questions submitted via Ask Extension will be answered remotely and phone messages will be answered biweekly.