APPLEWOOD FIREWISE
Every year, devastating wildfires burn across the United States. At the same time, a growing number of people are living where wildfires are a real risk. West Metro Fire Rescue, Xcel Energy and Jefferson County identify West Applewood as an area at increased risk of wildfire. While wildfires will continue to happen, there are things you can do to protect your home and neighborhood as well as your family’s safety. The Firewise USA® program is here to help you get started.
Firewise USA is a voluntary community engagement program of the National Fire Protection Association and the Colorado State Forest Service. Firewise sites, like Applewood West’s APOA site, have organized their community to reduce wildfire ignition risks on a community-wide scale. Neighbor-to-neighbor collaboration and cooperation is required to produce a more sustained and resilient risk level. Firewise program risk reduction guidance is a science-based, best practices program aimed at reducing ignitable risks for structural ignition of wildfires.
APOA began education homeowners in 2025. Neighbors were educated and encouraged to remove risky, dried, wildfire-ignitable debris around homes. The goal of the program is to make Applewood a safer, more wildfire resilient community. Secondarily, we believe it will foster community pride as neighbors work together to protect their homes, other structures, trees and common-area vegetation.
APOA is continuing to partner with West Metro Fire Rescue District to host neighborhood education events and encourage removal of ignitable materials from the home ignition zone (0-5 feet surrounding your home) on properties in West Applewood.
The links on this page contain resources so you can learn more about wildfire mitigation and steps every West Applewood resident can take to make our neighborhood more resilient.
Our next community education events will be a FREE community breakfast and education session provided by West Metro Fire Rescue on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in Maple Grove Park’s Arbor House and our FREE slash drop off on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
The APOA newsletter is the best place to stay informed about upcoming neighborhood Firewise education and events. Sign up today!
Develop a plan for your property using the Firewise Home Ignition Zone checklist.
Important Links:
https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/wildfire/preparing-homes-for-wildfire
https://www.westmetrofire.org/wildfire-safety
https://extension.colostate.edu/resource/firewise-plant-materials/
Jeffco Wildfire Resiliency Code updates (these apply to unincorporated Jeffco, including West Applewood)