Tag: Colorado PSA

Fire Evacuation Preparedness

On By Kelly YoungLeave a comment

After an unfortunately dry winter, El Paso County is once again likely to be at high risk of fire over the summer. In a drought environment like ours, it’s important to be prepared for the possibility of fire evacuation. Below is an evacuation checklist to help you know what to expect in the worst-case scenario. You can also download it as a PDF here.

Keep in mind that during times of particularly high fire danger, it’s a good idea to have your go bag ready before a fire starts or an evacuation notice is issued.

Another thing that can be extremely helpful here in Colorado is advance fire mitigation. If you have trees with low-hanging branches on your property, trimming those low branches will make it more difficult for fire to overtake the whole tree. Similarly, any dead trees or shrubbery should be removed. If you need referrals for yard services, don’t hesitate to leave a comment and I’ll be happy to give recommendations.

Is Your Home Protected from Radon?

On By Kelly YoungLeave a comment

Colorado is a wonderful place to live. We have abundant hiking and skiing, most of our days are sunny, and so many of us have the beautiful Rocky Mountains right at our doorstep. No wonder this is such a popular bumper sticker:

(Image source)

However, even in such a beautiful place to live as this, there are safety concerns homeowners should be aware of. A critical element of home safety here in Colorado is radon testing.

Is your home protected from radon? This colorless, odorless, cancer-causing gas is found in unhealthy levels in every county in Colorado and may be responsible for more than 500 lung cancer-related deaths in the state every year. To make matters worse, almost half the homes in Colorado have radon levels higher than the EPA’s recommended level.

Fortunately, the colder months are the recommended time to test your home for radon. Keeping your windows shut against the cold means radon tests can gather more accurate readings.

In El Paso County, the Colorado Springs Radon Measurement Lab can supply home testing kits and analyze the results. They’re located at 1675 W. Garden of the Gods Road. More information and pricing is available at their website.

Testing your home this January or February is the best way to keep you and your family safe from radon. If you haven’t had one yet, why not start the new year with a potentially lifesaving test?