City staff seeks to protect Lone Tree from wildfire disasters through a Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Article by Roshana Floyd, City of Lone Tree Planning Manager
The recent devastating fires in Maui are a reminder that wildfires can happen anywhere – from remote natural areas to urban places. Like most of Colorado, Lone Tree is in a wildfire risk zone due to dry weather, high winds, topography, and vegetation. Lone Tree leaders recognize the importance of wildfire preparation and mitigation planning. The city is proactively taking steps to work with our partners and the community to reduce those risks.
City staff are in the process of developing a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP), which will assess wildfire risk for existing developments and present recommendations for mitigating those risks. The development of the CWPP is a collaborative effort with the Colorado State Forest Service, Douglas County’s Wildfire Mitigation team, South Metro Fire Rescue, South Suburban Parks and Recreation District, and the City of Lone Tree. As the plan develops, the team will work with Homeowners Associations and various stakeholders to provide opportunities for public engagement.
Additionally, in July, the Lone Tree City Council adopted changes to the City’s Zoning and Subdivision codes for the purposes of assessing wildfire risk for new developments in Lone Tree. These regulations will require applicable new development applications to include a professionally developed wildfire risk assessment. Depending on the assessment, developers may be required to submit a wildfire mitigation plan as part of their development application, which may be used to apply additional development requirements and protections to new development in Lone Tree. Examples of possible mitigation requirements for individual developments include prohibitions on certain landscaping treatments or plants in high-risk areas, additional setback requirements between structures, and/or wildfire risk disclosures on subdivision plats to inform future residents.
What You Can Do:
Help mitigate risk on your property by following these simple tips from the City Forester:
- Keep all vegetation watered, free of dead material, and properly maintained.
- Mow open spaces and native grasses, especially when adjacent to structures.
- Selectively prune/thin plants to reduce plant density; provide space between vegetation clusters to create fuel breaks.
- Remove dead plant materials from gutters, the base of exterior walls and fences, and from under decking.
- Trim vegetation to be at least 10 feet from structures, including rooflines and decks.
- Add spacing for walkways/paths and provide breaks in landscaping by using rock, concrete, retaining walls, and driveways to create noncombustible barrier to stop/slow flame spread.
For additional landscaping and maintenance tips to reduce fire risk, or to schedule a free home assessment, consult South Metro Fire Rescue at (720) 989-2271, or email [email protected].
Follow the City’s Wildfire Mitigation webpage for additional information and updates on the City’s wildfire mitigation planning process.