Even with snow piling up, now is the time to prepare for wildfires, according to Dan Schroder with the Colorado State University Summit County Extension Office.
“If you think about this era of longer hotter drier, the wildfire season is on us a lot of the year,” Schroder said.
Last summer was historic with several record-setting large fires crossing the state. In an effort to mitigate fire risk, Summit County is taking applications for grants that would pay for half the cost of removing vegetation from around homes creating defensible space.
“Create defensible space around your home by pushing the forest back,” said Schroder. “You’re increasing your odds of surviving a wildfire.” In most cases, the idea is to remove most vegetation from up against a home.