Coal Creek Canyon
Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Neighbors Helping Neighbors Protect Our Homes From Wildfire
Step 1
Step 2
Review Your Resident Action Plan
Step 5
Coal Creek Heights
Resident Action Plan
Here's an overview of the neighborhood as it relates to Fire Potential and Mitigation Efforts.
The Coal Creek Heights Plan Unit has an HIGH Relative Risk Rating.
Under extreme fire weather and during a fire:
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54% of the area could experience very high to extreme fire behavior.
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77% of homes are exposed to radiant heat from burning vegetation.
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100% of homes are exposed to embers from burning vegetation.
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59% of roads (3.8 miles) have potentially non-survivable conditions.
County:
The entire plan unit is in Jefferson County.
Vegetation, topography, and potential fire behavior:
Coal Creek Heights is mostly covered by very dense lodgepole with aspen intermixed. These conditions create a potential for extreme fire behavior. There are many very steep slopes, with many narrow valleys and ridges that could increase unpredictable fire behavior.
Hazards in the home ignition zone:
The main threat to the homes in this plan unit is embers landing on roofs or within 30 feet of the home and igniting it. All homes in the unit are built on the hillside, which puts them at a higher fire risk. Firefighters may not be able to protect these homes in an extreme wildfire event due to the steep slopes and limited road access with no escape routes. While there are some newer homes with good roofs and siding, many homes in the unit are older and were not built with ignition-resistant materials. For example, wood siding and decking, found on most homes in the unit, can easily ignite when exposed to direct flames or embers from a wildfire. Some homes have older asphalt roofs that are vulnerable to embers.
Many of the homes have fire hazards in zones 1, 2, and 3. Some have branches near or over the roof, pine needles and leaves in the gutters, and other flammable items within 30 ft of the home including wood piles, old wooden sheds, and debris.
Roadway accessibility and evacuation capacity:
There are only two ways in and out of this community, and only one exit for residents on Coal Creek Heights Drive. The main roads can accommodate two-way traffic. Coal Creek Heights Road is well maintained and wide with hammerheads at sharp switchback turns, which makes the road easily accessible for a type 3 engine. However, many driveways and steep and narrow with limited space for a type 3 engine to turn around at the top.
Fire suppression considerations:
Coal Creek Heights has no pressurized fire hydrants and very limited access to water for firefighters from other sources. There are overhead powerlines throughout the plan unit. Downed powerlines can be an ignition source and hazard to firefighters and residents. Some homes do not have consistent and legible address signs, which make them difficult for firefighters to find.
Your Ambassador is
Stephen McCann
Ambassadors are volunteer liaisons to members in their own Plan Unit to help them learn about programs available to them. Ambassadors provide information, community resources and help organize community mitigation projects to reduce wildfire risk around homes and in neighborhoods.
Contact Kristen or Stephen
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Recommendations for Residents in
Coal Creek Heights
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Prepare your home for wildfire. Residents should start with hardening their homes, then complete mitigation actions in home ignition zones 1 and 2. It is recommended that every homeowner in this plan unit gets a home assessment to identify specific mitigation actions that need to be taken, as actions will vary among homes.
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Move hazards such as wood piles, propane tanks, and old dilapidated wooden sheds at least 30 ft away from the home.
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Form a fire mitigation group in your plan unit. Organize community-wide home hardening and defensible space tours to demonstrate effective mitigation practices. Find out how to organize a neighborhood event with your local Saws and Slaws group and volunteer at those events.
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Develop an evacuation plan for your family, sign up for emergency notifications from Jefferson and Boulder Counties, and coordinate with neighbors who might need additional support during evacuations.
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Install visible, reflective address and street signs. Address signs can be purchased from CCCFPD. Contact your county for installation of reflective street signs.
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Remove trees, shrubs and tall grasses along private roads and driveways to improve evacuation safety and firefighter access during a wildfire.
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Contact your local HOA, road association, or the county to remove vegetation along shared roads in the community, particularly along Coal Creek Heights Dr.
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Work with CCCFPD and Jefferson County to identify a feasible secondary egress route for residents.
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Install community cisterns in coordination with CCCFPD.
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Work with neighbors to create linked defensible space. Projects that span multiple properties are more effective at reducing wildfire risk. Contractor costs can sometimes be shared among homeowners, reducing the cost for everyone involved. On average, residents in Coal Creek Heights should expect to work with 2-3 neighbors to ensure their HIZ is mitigated.
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Advocate for county support from Jefferson County to implement a program like Wildfire Partners and host a slash sort yard or more collection events located in the fire district.