Living in the WUI (Wildland Urban Interface)
If you're fortunate to live in or visit the Estes Valley, you are spending time in the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI). The below resources can aid you in protecting your home from the threat of wildfire and help us all be better stewards of our environment.
Fortunately, there are actions that we can all take to reduce the risk of wildfire and increase our resiliency when wildfire occurs.
Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) - 2022 Update
Estes Valley Fire - CWPP - Signed August 2022Estes Valley Fire - CWPP - Companion Summary
Estes Valley Fire worked closely with the Estes Valley Watershed Coalition to update our Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). There are many resources you can access to review and learn more about this process and the document.
View the ArcGIS story map here. It is interactive and provides a high level overview.
The community meeting held on May 26th was recorded and can be viewed here. The slides shown at the meeting are available here:
Estes Valley CWPP Community Presentation Slides May 26
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Property Assessment Program
The best thing a property owner can do is take proactive steps to create defensible space on their property. Our Wildfire Mitigation Specialists conduct individual home assessments to evaluate your wildland fire risk and hazard and to provide wildfire information for homeowner's associations and events.
- To have one of our Wildfire Mitigation Specialists tour your property or HOA (a residential property assessment will take approximately two hours) fill out the form here https://www.estesvalleyfire.org/wildfire-partners-evfpd-wildfire-mitigation-assessment
I'VE HAD MY ASSESSMENT, NOW WHAT?
Once you understand your risks, you can start to address them. Many recommendations are straight forward based on the assessment criteria, but you can find more resources on how to make your property more fire resistant below
Videos
See this 2020 summary of "Living in the Wildland Urban Interface" prepared for the Estes Valley Library, presented by Fire Chief David Wolf and Fire Marshal Kevin Sullivan.
See this 2020 summary of "Living in the Wildland Urban Interface" prepared for the Estes Valley Library, presented by Fire Chief David Wolf and Fire Marshal Kevin Sullivan.
In this video, Dr. Jack Cohen from the National Fire Protection Association explains what you can do to protect your home from a wildfire.
In this video, Dr. Jack Cohen from the National Fire Protection Association explains what you can do to protect your home from a wildfire.
2017 workshop with Colorado State University Extension and the Colorado State Forest Service on how to help prepare your home for a wildfire.
2017 workshop with Colorado State University Extension and the Colorado State Forest Service on how to help prepare your home for a wildfire.
Links/Resources
National Fire Protection Association FireWise program:
FireWise Resources:
- FireWise Homeowners Checklist (PDF)
- Fire Adapted Communities (https://fireadapted.org)
- Be FireWise Around Your Home - Brochure (PDF)
- FireWise Guide to Landscape and Construction (PDF)
- Communities Compatible with Nature (PDF)
- FireWise Plant List (PDF)
- Fire-Resistant Landscaping (PDF)
- FireWise Guide to Landscape and Construction (PDF)
Ready, Set, Go educational program:
- http://www.wildlandfirersg.org/
- Ready, Set, Go Brochure
- Ready, Set, Go Action Plan
- Ready, Set, Go Action Plan - Spanish
Other Resources