Firewise Landscaping & Managing Your Defensible Space

Check out the YouTube recording on Firewise Landscaping and Managing Your Defensible Space, hosted by our neighbor, Kathy Maher:

In this presentation, Kevin Lyles, a Certified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist, shares his expertise on creating fire-resilient properties. With over 25 years of experience as a professional landscape architect, Kevin brings a wealth of knowledge from designing open spaces, parks, trails, and native landscapes. In 2023, he further applied his passion by founding Horsetooth Nursery, which specializes in native, waterwise, and firewise plants.

Kevin's discussion covers essential aspects of wildfire preparedness, including:

• Introduction to the Lama League and Wildfire Mitigation: This includes an overview of the League of Women Voters, the introduction of Kevin Lyles (wildfire mitigation specialist), and a summary of the presentation's key areas.

• Context of Wildfire Risk: This section delves into the societal and environmental factors contributing to increased wildfire risk, such as historical fire suppression, drought, development in fire-prone areas, and the impact on the insurance industry.

• Understanding Fire Behavior: This covers the fundamental elements of fire (the fire triangle) and the three main ways fire spreads: direct flame contact, embers, and radiant heat, with a particular focus on embers as a significant cause of home loss.

• Defensible Space: A detailed explanation of the three zones of defensible space around a home (immediate, intermediate, and extended) and strategies for managing vegetation within each.

• Firewise Plants: Discusses the characteristics of plants that are resistant to fire and provides examples of both recommended and undesirable plant types for fire-prone areas.

• Home Hardening: Focuses on making structures more resistant to wildfire, including discussions on non-combustible decking and fencing materials, protecting vents, and applying fire retardants.

• Landscape Maintenance and Housekeeping: Emphasizes ongoing efforts to reduce fire risk, such as removing weeds, maintaining plant health, minimizing clutter, and strategic tree removal.

• Resources and Community Engagement: This includes information on available resources for wildfire preparedness and discussions on how to encourage neighbors to adopt firewise practices.

This presentation was organized by the South Larimer Discussion Group of the League of Women Voters of Larimer County, which holds monthly presentation/discussion sessions focused on topics of interest to folks living in the Loveland/Berthoud area. These presentations/discussions are nonpartisan and are meant to share information about issues of general interest or concern.