HomeMy WebLinkAboutWildfire Mitigation-Fuel ReductionJanuary 22,2025
Elk Springs Homeowners Association, Inc.
P.O. Box 3167
Glenwood Springs, CO 81602
RE: lVitdfire Mitigation - Fuel Reduction
The followingZone I andZone 2 fuel reduction recommendations are applicable to all
properties within the subdivision. In some cases the Zone 3 recommendations may also be
appropriate.
Fuel reduction recommendations per Colorado State Forest Service standards:
Zone 1, 0-30 feet from structures:
1. Remove combustible fuels against and within 5 feet of the house and garage.
2. Prune and maintain any plants inZone 1 to prevent excessive growth. Also, remove all
dead branches, stems and leaves within and below the plant.
3. Ideally, remove all trees from Zone 1 to reduce frcehazards. The more trees you remove,
the'safer your home will be,
4. If you do keep any trees in this zone, consider them part of the structure and extend the
distance of the entire defensible space accordingly.
5. Remove any branches that overhang or touch the roof.
6. Rake pine needies and other organic debris at least 10 feet away from all decks and
structures.
Zone 2o 30-100 feet from structures:
1. Remove stressed, diseased, dead or dying trees and shrubs. This reduces the amount of
vegetation available to burn, and makes the forest healthier.
2. Remove enough trees and large shrubs to create at least 15 feet between crowns. Crown
separation is measured from the outermost branch of one tree to the nearest branch on the
next tree.
3. Remove all ladder fuels from under remaining trees. Prune tree branches off the trunk to
a height of I 0 feet from the ground or I 13 the height of the tree, whichever is less.
4. Small groups of two or three trees may be left in some arcas of Zone 2,btrt leave a
minimum of 30 feet between the crowns of these clumps and surrounding trees.
Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District
300 Meadowood Drive ' Carbondale, CO 81623 '970-963-2491Fax970-963-0569
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5. Because Zone 2 forms an aesthetic buffer and provides a transition between zones, it is
necessary to blend the requirements for Zones 1 and 3. For example, if you have atree in
Zone 2 with branches extending into Zone l, the tree can be retained if there is proper
crown spacing.
6. Limit the number of dead trees (snags) to one or two per acre. Be sure snags cannot fall
onto the house, power lines, roads or driveways.
Zone 3, 100-200 feef from structures:
NFPA Firewise Recommendations
Zone 3 is 100 Io 200 feet from the home and this area should be thinned, although less space is
required than in Zone2. NOTE: Because of other factors such as topography, the recommended
distances to mitigate for radiant heat exposure actually extend between 100 to 200 feet from the
home - on a site-specific basis. In this area:
Remove smaller conifers that are growing between taller trees. Remove heavy accumulation of
woody debris. Reduce the density of tall trees so canopies are not touching.
Colorado State Forest Service Recommendations
A gradual transition into this zone from defensible space standards to other management
objectives you may have is suggested. Typical management objectives for areas surrounding
homesites or subdivisions are: provide optimum recreational opportunities; enhance aesthetics;
maintain tree health and vigor; provide barriers for wind, noise, dust and visual intrusions;
support limited production of firewood, fence posts and other forest commodities; or grow
Christmas trees or trees for transplanting.
Specific requirements will be dictated by your objectives for your land and the kinds of trees
present. See Figure 5 for the minimum suggested spacing between 'oleave" trees. Forest
managemerrt in Zone 3 is an opportunity for you to increase the health and growth rate of the
forest in this zone. Keep in mind that root competition for available moisture limits tree growth
and ultimately the health of the forest.
A high canopy forest reduces the chance of a surface fire climbing into the tops of the trees and
might be a priority for you if this zone slopes steeply. The healthiest forest is one that has
multiple ages, sizes, and species of trees where adequate growing room is maintained over time.
Remember to consider the hazards o,f ladder fuels. Multiple sizes and ages of trees might
increase the fire hazad from Zone 3 into Zone 2, particularly on steep slopes.
Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District
300 Meadowood Drive ' Carbondale, CO 81623 . 970-963-2491Fax970-963-0569
A greater number of wildlife trees can remain inZone 3. Make sure that dead trees pose no threat
to power lines or fire access roads.
While pruning generally is not necessary in Zone 3, it may be a good idea from the standpoint of
personal safety to prune trees along trails and fire access roads. Or, if you prefer the aesthetics of
a well-manicured forest, you might prune the entire area. In any case, pruning helps reduce
ladder fuels within the tree stand, thus enhancing wildfire safety.
Mowing is not necessary inZone 3.
Any approved method of slash trealment is acceptable for this zons, including piling a46
buming, chipping or 1op-and-scatter.
Tree
Diameter
(in
inches)
Average Stem
Spacing
Between Trees
(in feet)
3 10
4 TI
5 T2
6 L3
7 t4
8 1_5
9 L6
10 L7
Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District
300 Meadowood Drive . Carbondale, CO 81623 '970-963-2491Fax970-963-0569
LL 79
12 2L
13 23
t4 24
15 26
T6 28
17 29
L8 31
19 33
20 35
2t 36
22 38
23 40
24 42
Figure 5: Minimum tree
spacing for Zone 3
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Specific Recommendation for Piflon and Juniper
Many piflon and juniper (PJ) forests are composed of continuous fuel that is highly flammable.
Fire in PJ forests tend to burn intensely in the crowns of trees. Try to create a mosaic pattern
when you thin these trees, with a mixture of individual trees and clumps of three to five trees.
The size of each clump will depend on the size, health and location of the trees. The minimum
spacing between individual trees shoul dbe 20 feet between tree crowns, with increasing space
for larger trees, clumps, and stands on steeper slopes.
Tree pruning for defensible space is not as critical in PJ forests as in pine or fir forests. Instead,
it is more important to space the trees so that it is difficult for the fire to move from one tree
Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District
300 Meadowood Drive ' Carbondale, CO 81623 . 970-963-2491Fax970-963-0569
clump to the next. Trees should only be pruned to remove dead branches or branches that are
touching the ground. However, if desired, live branches can be pruned to a height of 3 feet above
the ground. Removing shrubs that are growing beneath PJ canopies is recommended to reduce
the overall fuel load that is available to a fire. It is NOT recommended to prune live branches or
remove PJ trees betweenApril and October, when the piflon ips beetle is active in western
Colorado. Any thinning activity that creates the flow of sap in the summer months can attract
these beetles to healthy trees on your property. However, it is acceptable to remove dead trees
and dead branches during the summer months.
Avoid accumulations of surface fuels, such as logs, branches, slash and wood chips greater than
4 inches deep.
Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District
300 Meadowood Drive ' Carbondale, CO 81623 '970-963-2491Fax970-963-0569