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.