As we approach the summer season we
have so much to love about living in the mountains. However, this is also the
time of year that we need to be cognizant of the potential for wildfires and
the destruction they can bring. Wildfire mitigation is one of the topics that
tends to be misunderstood, and oftentimes ignored until a fire danger is
imminent. It is important for several reasons, even for residents living
in-town. Ultimately, living in a mountainous area comes with an increase in
fire risk. The trees, brush and slopes aid the rapidly-spreading capabilities
of fire and threaten homes if left untended.
Additionally, wildfire mitigation
impacts homeowners insurance. The amount of wildfire mitigation completed on a
home is factored into insurance qualification. When buying or selling a home,
wildfire mitigation becomes a substantial topic. Buyers must consider
homeowners insurance, and sellers should consider the insurance impact on
potential buyers, and lower those costs by completing wildfire mitigation.
The ultimate question becomes: how do
homeowners conduct wildfire mitigation, and what must be changed? While many
opinions exist on this topic, there are a few basics to consider. Primarily,
homeowners should consider the surroundings of their homes, and create a
defensible space. An ember shower can cause a fire up to a mile away. The roof
and immediate surroundings of the home should not have any fuel sources.
Most experts look at a home in three
rings. The first 30 feet around a home should be void of fuel sources. This
means there should be no firewood, low-hanging branches, dead vegetation/pine
needles, or other ground fuel. The next radius encompasses the 30-75/100 feet
from the home. In this area, trees should be heavily spaced and fuel breaks
(gravel paths, driveways) should break the area. Trees should be pruned (or
limbed up) 6-10 feet off the ground. The final radius focuses on the next
100-200 feet from the house, and is somewhat location specific. The area should
be thinned from thick tree clusters, and potentially smaller trees should be
removed when growing between larger trees. (See below links for additional
details and suggestions).
In regards to homeowners insurance,
Jim Duresky, a local insurance agent, notes three key areas in order to
anticipate whether a home is acceptable to an insurance company: 1) Access to
the house (can a fire truck access the home and have mobility in the area?), 2)
the slope and elevation change within a quarter mile of the home (this is
considered because fire travels quickly uphill), and 3) fuel sources around a
home, as mentioned above. Many insurance companies are requiring a
re-inspection program where agents are required to go to homes to re-inspect
previously insured homes and properties. As original landscaping grows, the
fire danger becomes more imminent, even for in-town homes. He suggests a fire
mitigation inspection prior to buying and selling homes, in order to anticipate
whether the home is acceptable to an insurance company.
I recently acquired a property in
Edgemont Ranch that has central water and sewer, and the insurance company (not
Jim Duresky!) terminated my insurance after a wildfire inspection. We
have mitigated the issues and have now resolved them, but it shows how much
insurance is changing.
Clearly, wildfire mitigation is
important if a fire does occur. Many of us remember the Missionary Ridge fire
in 2002. While we hope another fire of that scope does not occur in the Durango
area, thorough preparation will minimize losses. It will also impact the
homeowners insurance rates as re-inspection occurs. All homeowners desire the
peace of mind that accompanies a well-prepared property against wildfires.
See the below links for information
resources on fire mitigation.
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