Marshall Fire Survivor to Address Applewood + Free Slash Drop-Off
insurance Tips from marshall Fire rebuilder
Lisa Hughes, a Marshall fire survivor who rebuilt her house, will make a presentation to Applewood West homeowners in the Arbor House at Maple Grove Park at 10am, Saturday, Oct. 10, as part of our Firewise education series. Hughes will share her personal story of the aftermath of the Marshall fire and provide insurance tips related to wildfire. She was the secretary of the board for the long-term fire recovery group Marshall Restoring Our Community. Hughes currently works for United Policyholders, a small consumer non-profit that offers tips to help you avoid being underinsured; provides homeowner tips on insurance shopping; suggests what to do if you get dropped; and provides information about the FAIR plan and recent legislation. West Metro Fire’s Wildfire Mitigation Specialist Tom Welle will also provide wildfire mitigation and preparation tips.
Marshall Fire from South Boulder by Patrick Cullis, courtesy of NOAA.
Firewise Free Slash Drop-Off Oct. 17
Save the date for APOA’s next free slash drop-off: 9am-noon, Saturday, Oct. 17. As part of our Firewise efforts, APOA is partnering with Prospect Recreation & Park District to make it easier for neighbors to create defensible space around their homes. We’ll accept limbs, branches, pine needles, and cones. No stumps, rocks, or trash, please! Wildfire safety starts at home, but it protects the whole community. You can find all our slash drop-off details here.
If you need to dispose of slash sooner, Jeffco’s Tincup Ridge slash drop off on Rooney Road is open 9am-4pm, Friday through Sunday, until Oct. 25. The cost is $24 per standard load.
Fall wILDFIRE mITIGATION tIPS
According to Firewise USA, landscape maintenance should be part of your ongoing wildfire mitigation work. To reduce ember ignition and fire spread,
trim branches that overhang the home, porch and deck
prune the branches of large trees up to 6 to 10 feet from the ground
remove plants containing resins, oils and waxes - we’re looking at you, Applewood junipers! (Jefferson County’s new wildfire code now prohibits planting junipers and arbor vitae.)
Additional projects in Zone 2, also known as the Intermediate Zone 5 to 30 feet from your home, include
removing stressed, diseased, dead or dying trees and shrubs
removing leaf and needle debris on the ground
keeping grass mowed
maintaining adequate spacing between shrubs
Last month, we provided tips for where to start in Zone 1, or the Immediate Zone of your home and the surrounding 5 feet. You can re-read these tips for reducing your home’s vulnerability to embers, which can travel a mile from an actual fire and are a primary cause of home ignition in a wildfire.
Thanks to West Metro Fire Rescue, Firewise USA, and the Colorado State Forest Service for the tips!