Zone 1 - Begin Hardening your Home

When managing your landscape and home for wildfire we break it down into 3 zones.

Zone 1: This is the first 5 feet from the exterior of your home.

Zone 2: This is from 5 ft extending out to 30 ft

Zone 3: This is from the 30ft mark out to the remaining property

ZONE 1

GOAL: This zone is designed to prevent flames from coming in direct contact with the structure. Use nonflammable, hard surface materials in this zone, such as rock, gravel, sand, cement, bare earth or stone/concrete pavers.

CRITICAL STEPS

• Remove all flammable vegetation, including shrubs, slash, mulch and other woody debris.

• Do not store firewood or other combustible materials inside this zone.

• Prune tree branches hanging over the roof and remove all fuels within 10 feet of the chimney.

• Regularly remove all pine needles and other debris from the roof, deck and gutters.

• Rake and dispose of pine needles, dead leaves, mulch and other organic debris within 5 feet of all decks and structures. Farther than 5 feet from structures, raking material will not significantly reduce the likelihood of ignition and can negatively affect other trees.

• Do not use space under decks for storage.
  

This information is from this helpful booklet from Colorado State Forest Service see the link to download the pdf

Or check out our next post about Zone 2