Boulder County Wildfire Partners Assessment Tool 5.8.14

• Document No.

• Addresss

• Client

• Conducted on

  Date

• Prepared by

• Photo of house

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Existing Conditions

• Dangerous topographical feature/structure location?

  Good (no dangerous features)

  Moderate (dangerous features within neighborhood/community)

  Poor (home is near chimney, V-canyon, saddle, ridge top, other dangerous feature)

• Fuel on neighboring land/structures?

  Good (no concerns from neighboring property)

  Moderate (limited mitigation on neighboring land)

  Poor (small lot with neighboring structure or poorly mitigated land nearby)

• Comments:
  

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Roof & Eaves

• ***Does the home have a Class A fire rated roof?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Replace your roof with a Class A fire rated roof.

• ***What is the roof type?

  Select Wood shingle Asphalt shingle Metal Tile EPDM Slate Other/Unknown

  • Wood shingle
  • Asphalt shingle
  • Metal
  • Tile
  • EPDM
  • Slate
  • Other/Unknown

• ***Is the roof covering and assembly in good condition?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Replace missing tiles or shingles.

• ***Roof edge: Is there exposed combustible material where the roof covering and roof deck meet?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Install drip edge at the roof edge to protect any exposed roof sheathing.

• ***Gaps: For metal/tile roofs, are there gaps in the roof covering susceptible to ember penetration?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Protect gaps at the eaves to preclude entry of flames and embers.

• ***Roof Design: Are there dormers or other complex features with combustible siding that are at risk from ember ignition?

  Yes - Flashing

  Yes - Siding

  No

• Install metal flashing from roof deck up dormers

• Replace wood siding on dormers with ignition resistant material.

• ***PV: If there are solar panels, are they clear of combustible debris?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Remove combustible debris from solar panels.

• ***Skylights: If there are skylights on the roof, are they properly mitigated?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Remove all combustible materials from skylights.

• Eaves: Do you have open eave construction?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Consider converting open-eave framing to a boxed-in or soffited eave design.

• ***Vents (roof, soffit): Are they protected with 1/8" metal screening?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Cover all vents with 1/8" metal screening and/or replace vents with low profile vents.

• ***Debris: Are the roof, gutters, and eaves free of combustible debris (needles, leaves, and nests)?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Remove combustible material from roof, gutters, and eaves.

• Gutters and Downspouts: Are they non-combustible?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Consider replacing gutters and downspouts with noncombustible materials.

Roof and Eaves

• Roof Pass?

• Comments:

Exterior Walls & Openings

• Siding type: What type of siding is on the home?

  Select combination fiberboard/wood comp hardboard/cementious log construction mason/brick metal natural/fabricated stone/rock natural wood/cedar siding stucco vinyl other/unknown

  • combination
  • fiberboard/wood comp
  • hardboard/cementious
  • log construction
  • mason/brick
  • metal
  • natural/fabricated stone/rock
  • natural wood/cedar siding
  • stucco
  • vinyl
  • other/unknown

• Siding Material: Does the home have combustible siding?

  Yes-Replace

  Yes-D-Space

  No

• Replace with non combustible siding

• Increase spacing to first conifers.

• Siding condition: Are there gaps, holes, or other areas where embers could accumulate, lodge, or penetrate?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Protect gaps, holes and other penetrations to preclude entry of flames or embers.

• Clearance: Is the ground to siding clearance greater than 2 inches?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Recommend obtaining 2" clearance from base of the wall (install non-combustible material/remove siding) or properly mitigate this area.

• ***Wall vents: If there are wall or gable vents, are they properly mitigated?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Cover vents with 1/8" wire screening and/or replace vents with low profile vents.

• ***Dryer vents: Are there louver vents and do they operate correctly?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Install louver vents and make sure they operate properly.

• ***Windows: Are there any single pane windows?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Replace with dual or multi pane windows, preferably with tempered glass. Or, increase defensible space requirements.

• Remove marked vegetation around window.

• ***Bay windows: Are overhangs properly mitigated?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Mitigate area underneath windows.

• Garage doors: Are there any gaps in your garage door? Or are there any plastic windows?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Mitigate the openings and weather seal the perimeter of the door. Consider replacing plastic windows.

• ***Foundation risk: Does the foundation design (open) produce a significant wildfire risk?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Consider enclosing (and properly ventilating) open foundation.

Walls and Openings Assessment

• Walls and Openings Pass?

• Comments:

Attachments

• ***Fence: Is there combustible wood attached to the structure that could carry fire to the home?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Replace with non-combustible section that is at least 5 feet long.

• Deck connections: is there protection at wall (combustible) to deck junction?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Mitigate junction with metal flashing.

• ***Deck condition: Are any of the deck boards rotted, damaged, or in poor condition?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Repair/replace rotted or damaged boards.

• ***Items on decks: Is there any combustible material (firewood/pine needles) on the deck?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Remove firewood and other high-risk items.

• ***Deck connection debris: Is there debris accumulated at the deck to wall intersection?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Remove debris from deck connection.

• High risk decks: Does your deck overhang a steep slope?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Considered enclosing (and properly ventilating) deck, or building a noncombustible wall.

Attachments Assessment

• Attachments Pass?

• Comments:

Non- Combustible Zone 1A (0-5 ft)

• ***Non-combustible surfaces: Is there a non-combustible perimeter extending around the entire home and any attachments such as decks?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Install crushed gravel, poured concrete, pavers, etc.

• ***Live and Dead Vegetation: Are there any organic mulches, grasses, woody shrubs, junipers, pine needles or tree branches in the zone?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Remove all organic material. Aspens are acceptable.

• ***Other material: Are there landscape timbers, debris or other combustible material present in this zone?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Remove material.

• ***Under decks: Is the area under all decks and extensions clear of all combustible material?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Remove flammable materials.

Non Combustible Zone1A (1-5 ft)

• Zone 1A Pass?

• Comments:

Zone 1 Vegetation (5-30+ ft)

• ***Conifers: Are any conifers present?

  Yes-Remove

  Yes-Mitigate

  No

• Remove all conifers

• Remove conifers to create large gaps and low limb so that no branches are within 10 ft of ground.

• ***Pine Needles: Are all pine needles, mulches and grasses raked 3 ft away from High Value Conifer trunks?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Rake away all pine needles within 3 ft of the trunk.

• ***Aspens: Are there any dead and/or heavily diseased aspens present?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Remove dead/diseased aspens.

• ***Junipers: Are any junipers present?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Remove all junipers.

• ***Shrubs: Are shrubs well spaced and removed from the dripline of "keep" trees?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Remove marked shrubs. For retained shrubs, prune excessive growth and remove dead material.

• ***Maintenance: Are all grasses and weeds cut to a maximum height of 6 inches?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Cut grasses.

• ***Surface fuels: Are all downed dead branches, dead logs, slash, and heavy accumulations of pine needles removed?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Remove dead and down material.

Zone 1 Assessment

• Zone 1 Pass?

• Comments:

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Zone 2 Vegetation (30 - 100+ ft)

• ***Do conditions require extending zone 2 beyond 100 ft?

  Yes-125

  Yes-150

  Yes-200

  No

• Extend zone 2 to 125 ft on downhill side

• Extend zone 2 to 150 ft on downhill side.

• Extend zone 2 to 200 ft on downhill side.

• ***What is the property's forest type?

  Ponderosa Pine

  Lodgepole Pine

  Other

• ***Spacing: Is there proper crown separation between the outer branches of individual conifers (usually 10-30ft)?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Thin conifers so they are properly spaced.

• ***Clumping: Is clumping of trees an acceptable mitigation strategy on this property?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Create proper spacing between clumps.

• ***Aspen: Are aspen present?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Try to create large patches/openings to encourage aspen expansion; avoid damaging existing aspen.

• Wildlife Snags: Do dead standing trees (over 8" that do not pose a falling risk) remain as important wildlife habitats?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Remove hazardous snags.

• Keep important wildlife snags.

• Sick Trees: Are all stressed, diseased, dead trees and shrubs removed? (does not include important wildlife snags)

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Remove marked trees.

• ***Shrubs: Are shrubs well spaced and removed from the drip line of "keep" trees?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Remove marked shrubs. For retained shrubs, prune excessive growth and remove dead material.

• ***Low Limbing: Are the lowest branches removed within 6-10 ft from the ground, or low limbed to 1/3 of the height of the tree, whichever is less?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Complete low limbing; aspens do not need to be low limbed.

• ***Surface Fuels: Are there heavy accumulations of surface fuels, such as slash piles, present?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Reduce surface fuels.

Zone 2 Assessment

• Zone 2 Pass?

• Comments:

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Detached Accessory Structures and Personal Property

• ***Detached Accessory Structures (sheds, garages): Are they adequately mitigated?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Properly mitigate per home standards.

• Play sets: Are they present on the property?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Properly mitigate play set.

• ***Firewood: Are firewood piles stored at least 30 ft from all structures and have at least 10 ft of clearance between it and the closest conifer branches?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Move pile 30 ft away uphill or parallel to structures.

• ***Propane Tanks: Are propane tanks properly mitigated?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Mitigate area around tank.

• Other Items: Are there other combustible items located in D-Space (scrap lumber, junk, cars, boats RVs, etc.)

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Remove materials/items.

Non-Vegetative D-Space Assessment

• Non Veg D Space Pass?

• Comments:

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Insurance

• ***Coverage A: What is your Homeowners Insurance Coverage A policy limit?

• ***Home size: What is the square footage of your home?
  

• Local Costs: Have you verified the cost of rebuilding your home with a local source to assure that you are adequately covered?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Contact a local expert to get an estimate for rebuilding your home; costs range from $200 to $350 per square foot. Enter estimated cost per square foot.
  
  

• Enter estimated cost per square foot.
  

• Rebuilding Cost: Square feet x estimated cost per square foot =

• Are you adequately insured (is then Coverage A policy limit greater than or equal to the estimated rebuilding cost)?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Homeowners acknowledge their current insurance policy may not cover the full cost of rebuilding their current home and take responsibility for updating their coverage as they deem appropriate.

• Home Inventory: Have you conducted a home inventory and stored it in a safe place outside of your home?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Conduct an inventory and store it in a safe place.

Insurance Assessment

• Insurance Pass?

• Comments:

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Evacuation

• Evacuation: Have you evacuated your home (actual or practice) during a previous wildfire?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Conduct a practice evacuation with members of your household.

• What did you learn?

• Belongings: Have you prepared a written list of items to take with you and a disaster/evacuation kit?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Make a list and prepare a kit.

• Notification: Have you signed up to receive free emergency alerts from the Office of Emergency Management?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Sign up at http://www.boulderoem.org/

• Alternative Routes: Are you prepared to evacuate by an alternative route if your primary egress is impassable?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Identify alternate routes.

• Communications: Have you planned how your family will stay in contact (or where you would meet) if separated during a wildfire?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Make a meeting plan.

• Neighbors: Have you considered how you could help neighbors who have special needs such as the elderly or disabled?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Talk with your neighbors to see if you can help them.

• Do you have a plan for evacuating your pets?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Form a plan for evacuating your pets.

Evacuation Assessment

• Evacuation Pass?

• Comments:

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Community Action

• Neighbors: Have you talked to your neighbors about linking mitigation efforts?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Talk to your neighbors about linking efforts.

• Community: Have you been involved in efforts to help protect your community?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Select all community efforts you have been involved with.

  Select no Boulder County CWPP local FPD CWPP other FPD CWPP chipping local chipping BoCo funding chipping saws n slaws Firewise community wildfire awareness month activity wf mitigation plan SPR/BP site visit workshop/training community meeting e-newsletter sort yard user shaded fuel break volunteer POS volunteer project other volunteer project

  • no
  • Boulder County CWPP
  • local FPD CWPP
  • other FPD CWPP
  • chipping local
  • chipping BoCo funding
  • chipping saws n slaws
  • Firewise community
  • wildfire awareness month activity
  • wf mitigation plan SPR/BP
  • site visit
  • workshop/training
  • community meeting
  • e-newsletter
  • sort yard user
  • shaded fuel break volunteer
  • POS volunteer project
  • other volunteer project

• In the Wildfire Partners application, did you say you wanted to be a community leader?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• What role would you like to play?

Community Assessment

• Community Pass?

• Comments:
  

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