By admin Published January 3, 2017

The Pitkin County Wildfire Council suggests that one of your New Year’s Resolutions include wildfire safety.

While the winter months are upon us, it may seem like wildfire is the last thing on most of our minds. But the truth is, in some areas of our state, wildfires continue to be a threat. It’s never too soon to start preparing your property for the upcoming wildfire season.

This holiday season, as you begin thinking about those New Year resolutions, consider making wildfire safety one of them. Creating a plan early and tackling these mitigation activities a little at a time not only cuts down on the “stress” factor, but it will go a long way in helping keep you and your family safer during wildfire season. 

NFPA has created a great wildfire safety checklist that can help you manage these tasks. From clearing leaves and other debris from gutters, eaves, porches and decks to removing dead vegetation from under your deck or porch, to screening areas below decks with wire mesh to prevent combustible materials from accumulating, many of these activities require just a bit of elbow grease and cost next to nothing to do.

Not sure where to start? Pick an item or two a week to get started and before you know it, you’ll have completed the whole list come springtime! Learn more about wildfire safety for homeowners by visiting our PitkinWildFire.com or Firewise website, and check out our events and activities, research and other wildfire related information on our wildfire safety pages at nfpa.org/wildfire.