Colorado Springs Fire Department Unveils Tips to Prepare for Wildfires

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) — The Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) is warning residents that the threat of fires remains present throughout the entire year in this region.

CSFD informs 11 News that implementing a strategy to safeguard your residence and readying it for potential wildfires can significantly impact both your family and the firefighting efforts.

Currently, CSFD is preparing for a sequence of town hall meetings titled "Living with Wildfire Town Halls" to ensure everyone is ready.

In each of these town hall meetings, the city aims to center the conversation around the neighboring areas.

Usually, these events take place on the western part of the city, near areas where structures are closely adjacent to vegetation.

This year, three gatherings will take place on the western part of the city, whereas two will occur on the eastern side, which has a greater number of homes situated in prairie terrain. Consequently, fires might more easily ignite and propagate between these residences.

Additional support will be provided at these town hall meetings from various entities such as Colorado Springs Utilities, the Colorado Springs Police Department, and Parks and Recreation, along with other groups to address any inquiries attendees might have regarding their safety in case of a wildfire.

Ashley Franco, the Public Information Officer for CSFD, informs 11 News, "This presents excellent chances for our community to gain empowerment and truly comprehend what preparations are necessary for facing a wildfire."

Franco goes on to say, "Many individuals simply state, 'All I have to do is collect my belongings and leave,' but there are numerous other actions one could take."

It's always beneficial to attend these gatherings, even if you have participated before. You get a chance to review information you might already be familiar with; however, as mentioned earlier, we usually update everything each year.

So we genuinely pay attention to what the community wants to hear, and we understand that their feedback indicates they want to pose more questions. Therefore, we've adjusted our presentation accordingly.

We've shortened it up a bit to allow for more opportunities to ask questions.

Each year brings new changes, which is essentially what we expect our residents to return for. There could be something they hadn't considered that wasn't brought up in previous meetings but might resonate with them this time.

Reducing risk to your property is crucial. Ensure you plant fire-resistant species around your house, maintain clearances around the exterior where fires can’t easily spread, keep your gutters free from debris, trim your trees, and keep your grass short. This helps prevent introducing fire hazards near your home.

“These are all crucial elements to guarantee that your home is protected against wildfires.”

The initial town hall meeting takes place on Tuesday at Woodmen Valley Chapel. It begins at 6:30 p.m.

You can enroll in the local chipper program to get assistance with grinding any branches resulting from the landscaping work near your house.

First responders want all residents to remember signing up for Peak Alerts so they can stay informed about any notifications close to where you live.