Grand County sits in the middle of fire country. We’ve watched the East Troublesome Fire show how fast a mountain blaze can move, and every homeowner here has felt that pit-of-the-stomach awareness during a dry, windy August. The reassuring part: research on how homes burn points to a clear, doable conclusion. IBHS research found that keeping the first 5 feet around a home clear of anything that burns cut its risk of igniting from a wildfire in half.
The 100-foot area around your home is called defensible space, and creating it is some of the highest-value work you can do on a mountain property. Here’s a practical starting point based on the Colorado State Forest Service’s Home Ignition Zone framework.
The big idea: the Home Ignition Zone
Your home’s odds come down to two things: how easily the structure ignites, and the quality of the defensible space around it. Together these make up the Home Ignition Zone. The goal isn’t to clear-cut your lot — it’s to interrupt a fire’s path so that by the time flames reach your house, they’ve lost intensity and have nothing close enough to catch. The work breaks into three zones, measured outward from your home.
Zone 1: 0–5 feet — the noncombustible zone
The closest, most critical band — and the one most people under-do. The goal: prevent flames and embers from touching your house.
- Create a noncombustible border in the first 5 feet — gravel, rock, pavers, or bare soil instead of mulch or plants.
- Remove anything that burns against the house: firewood, dead leaves, doormats, wooden trellises, bark mulch.
- Clean roof and gutters — dry debris in gutters gives embers a place to land and ignite.
- Store nothing flammable under decks, and move firewood at least 30 feet away.
Embers are the most common way homes ignite in a wildfire. Zone 1 removes the easy fuel they look for.
Zone 2: 5–30 feet — reduce and space it out
- Space out trees and shrubs so flames can’t jump crown to crown.
- Remove ladder fuels — limb up trees so a ground fire can’t climb into the canopy.
- Keep grass mowed and clear dead vegetation.
- Move propane, sheds, and woodpiles out where you can; avoid flammable shrubs against the structure.
Zone 3: 30–100 feet — manage the forest
Not about removing everything — about a healthier, more open forest that carries fire less aggressively: thin dead and dying trees, clear heavy deadfall, and maintain spacing between tree groups. In much of Grand County this zone runs into a neighbor’s land, so do what you can on your own property and consider coordinated work with neighbors or your HOA.
Don’t forget the structure itself
- Screen vents with 1/8-inch metal mesh so embers can’t blow into the attic.
- Keep the roof clear; choose Class A fire-rated materials when you replace it.
- Enclose the underside of decks and store nothing flammable there.
- Move door mats, cushions, and furniture inside during high-danger periods.
A realistic first weekend
- Clean the roof and gutters.
- Clear the first 5 feet around the whole house.
- Rake up needles and dead leaves within 30 feet.
- Limb up the trees closest to the house.
How Your Handy Neighbors helps
Defensible space is real, physical work — hauling, limbing, raking, clearing — and it’s the work we do. We clear and maintain your Zone 1 and Zone 2, clean roofs and gutters before fire season, limb up trees and remove ladder fuels, handle the haul-off, and keep it up year over year. If you’ve been meaning to tackle it and just need it done, get in touch — we’ll walk your property, prioritize, and knock it out before the dry season.
Sources
Official and primary sources we used for this guide. Rules and programs change, so check the current version before you act.
Disclaimer: This material is provided by Your Handy Neighbors for informational and educational purposes only and is not professional advice. Wildfire preparedness and defensible space measures may reduce risk but cannot eliminate it; no measure guarantees protection from wildfire or other emergencies. In an emergency, follow official instructions and call 911. Guidance is based on Colorado State Forest Service Home Ignition Zone recommendations — confirm specifics with your local fire protection district. © 2026 Sarastructions LLC dba Your Handy Neighbors.