Wildfires

Our hearts go out to the victims of the Southern California wildfires.  The scenes on the news are horrendous, and we can't imagine how horrifying the situation is in person.

We're certainly not immune to wildfires in the Pikes Peak area.  Colorado Springs and the surrounding locales have many hillside areas where fires can be a threat.  The Hayman Fire in 2002 - Colorado's largest wild fire - burned 133 homes and 138,000 acres.  (The Hayman Fire was caused by severe drought coupled with arson.  It did not reach Colorado Springs; it was centered approximately 30 miles southwest of Denver.)  Even though the physical scope of that fire paled in comparison to the fires in California, five firefighters lost their lives.

If you live in a hillside area, you may want to check out the Colorado Springs Fire Department's FireWise site to help you identify your home's wildfire risk and implement ways to reduce that risk. 

Also visit Firewise Communities. The national Firewise Communities program is a multi-agency effort designed to reach beyond the fire service by involving homeowners, community leaders, planners, developers, and others in the effort to protect people, property, and natural resources from the risk of wildland fire - before a fire starts.

One of the most intriguing properties in our 2007 Parade of Homes was a house in Turkey Canon Ranch built to Firewise specifications.