FLOOD03008

• County: Statewide
• Basin: Statewide
• Title: Colorado Wildfire Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex I
• Date: 8/1/1995
• Prepared For: State of Colorado
• Prepared By: USFWS
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Flood Mitigation/Flood Warning/Watershed Restoration

Issue C.lI: Defensible Space
Background: Vegetation provides a flammable path to improvements, inhibits access
by frrefighting forces and reduces space available for fire defense. Improvements need
open, defensible, accessible space to separate them from flammable vegetatiOlL Property
owners are responsible for providing and maintaining defensible space around their
improvements to help protect Lhem from fire. Fire departments, the State Forester and
wildfire consultants can provide on,site advice for defensible space needs.

Action Element:

1. Create sLatewide defensible space standards for developments.

2. Require implementation of standards for new construction.

3. Owners of homes and improvements implement defensible space concepts into
their landscaping and vegetation management.

4. Provide technical assistance and report progress as requested.

Agencies:

1. Colorado Slate ForeSL Service"r federal wildfire agencies, fire departments.

2. City and county planning departmePlS "r city councils, boards of county
commissioners.

3. Landowners, tenants "r fire departments, Colorado Slate ForeSL Service.

4. Fire departments, Colorado Slate Forest Service"r .

Estimated Costs: Variable with each situation; $500-$2,000 per defensible space
insLalled.

Funding Sources: State for standards. Agency budgets and/or landowners for cost of
on,site reconunendations. Landowners for COSL of insLallation.

Schedule: Immediate and ongoing.

Issue C.I2: Access to Dwellings
Background: Not all dwellings are accessible by modern emergency vehicles.
Accessibility problems include: road width, grade, shaIp curves, small bridges, overhead
clearances and Lum,around areas. Counties have road standards, but not all roads meet
standards for simultaneous emergency ingress and evacuatioll Private roads and
driveways are a special concern and often prohibit emergency vehicles. Motivation to
improve substandard access is not universial. Homeowners may not be aware of the
needs.

Action Element:

1. Public awareness campaign abont emergency access needs.

2. Driveways be made adequate for fire engine response.

3. Counties adopt road standards for simultaneous ingress/egress in the interface.
County roads be upgraded where needed to accommodate emergency vehicle
ingress and public evacuation/egress, waLer Lankers and bulldozer transport.

Agencies:

1. Fire departments"r county planning departments, Colorado Slate Forest
Service, Division of Fire Safety.

2. Private homeowners" f' local fire departments.

3. Boards of county commissioners, county road departments"f' local fire
departments, Colorado Slate Forest Service.

Estimated Costs: Determined locally.

Funding Sources: Driveways -landowners; county roads - county.

Schedule: Begin immediaLely and ongoing thereafter.

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