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
Hilltop
Resident Action Plan
Here's an overview of the neighborhood as it relates to Fire Potential and Mitigation Efforts.
The Hilltop Plan Unit has an HIGH Relative Risk Rating.
Under extreme fire weather and during a fire:
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52% of the area could experience very high to extreme fire behavior.
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48% 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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40% of roads (5.0 miles) have potentially non-survivable conditions.
County:
The entire plan unit is in Jefferson County.
Vegetation, topography, and potential fire behavior:
Vegetation ranges from dry mixed conifer to lodgepole, spruce fir, and aspen, with open ponderosa savannahs in the valley. Vegetation on the north facing slopes is very dense. There are many steep slopes, with narrow valleys and ridges that could increase unpredictable fire behavior. More than half the homes here are built mid-slope or on ridgetops, which puts them at risk of higher 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. Home construction is varied here, with some homes having ignition- resistant roofing and decking while others have untreated wood siding and decking. Wood siding and decking can easily ignite when exposed to direct flames or embers from a wildfire. At least a quarter of the homes have fire hazards in zones 1 and 2, and most homes do not have adequate defensible space out to zone 3.
Roadway accessibility and evacuation capacity:
There are many ways out of the Hilltop neighborhood, going in different directions. Roads can accommodate two-way traffic and are generally maintained and accessible. Residents evacuating livestock can make evacuation times even longer.
Fire suppression considerations:
Hilltop does not have fire hydrants, and there are not enough cisterns to defend all the homes in this area. There are overhead powerlines throughout the plan unit. Downed powerlines can be an ignition source and hazard to firefighters and residents. Many of the homes do not have consistent and legible address signs, which make them difficult for firefighters to find. There are additional hazards in this community, including two gas stations and large piles of tires that can be hazardous during a wildfire if not properly mitigated.
Your Ambassadors are
Tom Beucke &
Bobbie Steffe
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 Andrew or Laura Zach at HilltopCWPP@gmail.com
Click To Enlarge Map
Click To Enlarge Map
Recommendations for Residents in
Hilltop
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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 from their county or CCCFPD’s partners 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. Replace wooden fences with non-combustible fencing material.
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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 County (and consider signing up for Boulder County emergency notifications too), 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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Contact your local HOA, road association, or the county to remove vegetation along shared roads in the community, particularly along Twin Spruce Road, Ranch Elise Road, and Warren Road. Following initial fuel reduction on Highway 72 by CDOT, support the Highway 72 Roadside Fuel Reduction project by working with community groups and neighbors to treat fuels far enough back from the edge of the road to create a healthy fuelbreak. Support Jefferson County Road and Bridge, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and their partners in initiating and completing the Twin Spruce Road / Gap Road Roadside Fuel Reduction project.
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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 Hilltop should expect to work with 3-4 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.