What is fire mitigation?
Fire mitigation is reducing the fuel around your home so a wildfire, or the embers blowing ahead of one, is less likely to ignite it. Much of that work is simple and hands-on: clearing, raking, limbing and moving things that burn away from the house.
The Colorado State Forest Service explains this with the idea of a home ignition zone: rings of space around the house, with the most careful clearing closest to the walls and lighter thinning farther out. We follow that general approach. For details, see the Colorado State Forest Service’s home ignition zone guidance or ask your local fire district.
What defensible-space work do we do?
We do the labor that keeps the area around your home clean and lean:
- Clearing brush and small saplings near the house, deck and driveway
- Limbing lower branches on trees near the home, so ground fire has a harder time climbing into them
- Raking pine needles and leaves from around the foundation, under decks and along walls
- Cleaning gutters and roof valleys of needles and debris
- Moving firewood away from the house and out from under decks
- Clearing brush and debris around propane tanks and outbuildings (we do not work on the tank or gas lines)
We stack cut material for disposal or chipping, as agreed when you book.
What do we not do?
We do not fell large trees near houses, structures or power lines, and we do not work near power lines at all. Large tree removal belongs to a professional tree service, and anything touching power lines goes to the utility.
We also do not burn slash piles. If a tree or a job needs a specialist, we tell you during the estimate and focus on the clearing we can do safely.
Why start closest to the house?
The area right next to the house matters most, because embers that land there can ignite needles, mulch and debris against the walls. Clearing gutters, moving firewood and raking out the first few feet around the foundation often makes the biggest difference for the effort.
If we also install landscape lighting for you, we keep fixtures and cable clear of that close-in zone.
Can fire mitigation make my home fireproof?
No. Fire mitigation lowers the risk; it does not remove it. Construction materials, roof type, vents and the land around your neighborhood all play a part. For a full assessment, ask your local fire district or the Colorado State Forest Service, and use our work to carry out the hands-on parts.
When should I schedule it?
Spring and fall are common times, before fire season and after the needles drop. Many owners pair fall clearing with winterizing for cabins and vacation homes. Gutters fill again each year, so a yearly visit keeps the work current.
What does fire mitigation cost?
Fire mitigation is quoted with a free estimate. The size of the lot, how much brush and how many trees need work, the slope and how the cut material is handled all move the price. Photos of the house and yard help us quote.
See pricing for how quotes work, or request an estimate. For small jobs around the house, see handyman and maintenance.