27
Sep

For a free quote on fire mitigation in Palmer Lake, Call or text Colorado MAstication at (719)400-9104.

There are multiple stages to fire mitigation. Phase 1 is the most important, with around 70% of your effort focused on Zone 1. The remaining 30% of your effort in this phase is going to be on Zone 2.

The time this phase actually takes will depend on a number of factors, including the time you have available and the state of the area when you first start. For some people, it will take a weekend, but for others it can take a few weeks due to the state of the property when you initially buy it.

There are some tough decisions during this phase. You’ll need to get rid of some beautiful trees because they’re major fire hazards, especially if you have juniper or pinyon trees around.

Why Zone 1 Is So Important

If you keep trees and shrubs by your home, you may as well not bother with the rest of the fire mitigation phases. Fire departments will look at what’s around your home in Zone 1. If there’s anything that is a huge fire risk, your home is immediately considered a loss. Without a good Zone 1 defense, you’re living on borrowed time.

So, you’ll want to cut back the beautiful spruce. Make sure the branches don’t hang over your roof. Depending on how close it is to your home, you may be able to keep it, but removing it completely could end up being safer. In most cases, junipers need to go, and spruces need good pruning every single year.

In Zone 1A, you’ll want to minimize all vegetation. It shouldn’t be more than a few inches off the ground, although a few ornamental plants and flowers will work as long as they’re not under the windows or vents. In Zone 1B, you can have fire-resistant vegetation. All plant need to be frequently watered so they’re not fuel for any fires.

Consider a Drip Irrigation System

If you have a weekend, you could create a drip irrigation system that is sure to keep this zone healthy. You’ll need a backflow preventer, a filter, a pressure regulator, and pressure-compensating emitters with some tubing.

The best option would be to use a timer. However, you can do the timings manually. If you do have a timer and a well, you’ll need to make sure you turn off automated timers if the power goes out.

A drip irrigation system is likely to work out cheaper to keep the area healthy. Watering frequently, especially in the drought conditions in Colorado, can end up being costly on the water bill. Avid watering in Zone 2 and stick to the slow drip irrigation system to prevent the growth of weeds.

It’s all about conserving moisture in the area. Mulch is the best way to do that. Make sure the mulch remains wet to prevent the spread of fires. You can also opt for large wood chips. As long as they’re not left to dry out, they are fire-resistant.

Colorado Mastication provides fire mitigation services in Palmer Lake. We offer brish clearing, tree removal, lot clearing, fence line clearing.