Defensible Space and Home Ignition Zones (HIZ)
Red Feather Lakes Area Wildfire Defense Project
Overview of Defensible Space and Home Ignition Zones (HIZ)
Firefighters always do their best to protect residents, but ultimately, it is your responsibility to protect your property and investments from wildfire. (Photo credit: Poudre Fire Authority)
Did you know? More than half of Colorado residents live in the wildland-urban interface and are at some risk of being affected by wildfire.
A main outcome of the Red Feather Lakes Area Wildfire Defense Project Reduction of risk to properties through the performance of property assessments and subsequent defensible space treatments, and a robust community understanding of home ignition zone concepts and best practices through training and educational outreach. Improved community resilience through the building of Wildfire Partners Program ambassador teams and community social capital.
The Home Ignition Zone (HIZ) is the home and the area around the home (or structure). The HIZ takes into account both the potential of the structure to ignite and the quality of defensible space surrounding it.
Wildfire Partner Program
The Wildfire Partner Program is coordinated by Derek Rosenquist, and was established in 2023 as a part of the Emergency Services Division of the Larimer County Sheriff's Office.
The guiding mission of the Wildfire Partner Program is to promote active shared engagement with our citizens to increase wildfire resiliency, both before and after wildfire events. Wildfire Partners cultivates a neighbors-helping-neighbors approach to prepare homes, properties, roadways, homeowners associations, and businesses by reducing risk. We seek to promote wildfire resiliency, and the potential for lives, livelihoods, homes, and properties to resist, survive, and thrive following a wildfire event.
Larimer County’s Wildfire Partners program provides tools, training, and support for local fire districts and departments to offer comprehensive Wildfire Home Ignition Zone Assessments to residents free of charge.
Defensible Space and Home Ignition Zones (HIZ) Resources
The Home Ignition Zone: A guide to preparing your home for wildfire and creating defensible space (Colorado State Forest Service)
Wildfire Partners Program (Larimer County Sheriff’s Office)
Wildfire Mitigation Tx Credit Form (State of Colorado)
Reducing and spacing fuels (trees, vegetation, and debris) can keep a wildfire on the ground near homes, where it is less likely to ignite structures. The home ignition zones are defined as the distance from a home with specific types of landscaping recommendations. Photo credit: Tri County Fire Safe Working Group