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Adams County officials urge household wildfire preparedness: defensible space, alerts and outage planning
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Summary
Adams County and state fire officials told a county podcast listeners to prepare for earlier, wind-driven fires by creating defensible space (noting the first 5 feet around a home), signing up for emergency alerts such as Code Red, and planning for public-safety power shutoffs and evacuations.
Adams County and Colorado fire officials urged residents in an April podcast to take concrete steps now to reduce wildfire risk and be ready to evacuate if conditions worsen.
Carson Forsman, communication supervisor for Adams County, hosted the episode. Kyle Lopez, an emergency management coordinator with the Adams County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Management, said a key step is limiting activities that could spark fires. "So a large part of this fundamentally boils down to just common sense," Lopez said, urging people not to burn on high-risk days and to avoid using equipment that can create sparks.
Tracy LeClaire, public information officer for the Wildland Fire Management Section of the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, described the seasonal picture underpinning the warnings: "We're seeing earlier fires. We're seeing a much drier and warmer environment," she said, noting grasses that would normally be packed down by snow remain tall and a delayed or reduced green-up increases the chance that a spark will carry quickly.
Why it matters: Officials said the combination of dry fuels and wind can threaten both the western, more-populous parts of Adams County and its rural areas. Lopez pointed to wind as a principal driver of recent wildfire behavior and warned that local conditions vary across the county.
Practical steps officials recommended include creating and maintaining defensible space around homes, signing up for local alert systems, and preparing for planned utility shutoffs. LeClaire urged homeowners to reduce flammable material near structures and specifically recommended that "that first 5 feet, from your home ... really should be as unburnable as you possibly can," removing weeds and wood near foundations and keeping gutters and roofs clear of leaves and pine needles.
On staying informed, Lopez said residents in unincorporated parts of Adams County should sign up for Code Red and check which alert system their municipality uses; he also named Lookout Alerts, Rave and Smart911. He directed listeners to ready.gov/wildfires for step-by-step preparedness guidance. "The first step in getting prepared for this type of an emergency is essentially just knowledge," Lopez said.
Officials also addressed public-safety power shutoffs, which utilities increasingly use to prevent wind-driven ignitions. Lopez said these intentional outages are likely to continue and urged households to assess critical power needs (medical equipment is a priority), consider appropriately used portable generators or backup power supplies, and plan for outages that could last hours or days depending on conditions.
On reporting and evacuation, LeClaire advised residents to call in fires that have not yet been reported and to evacuate immediately if ordered or if they feel unsafe: "Don't hang around. Don't stay to take pictures. Don't pull over on the side of the road," she said, adding that keeping roadways clear is vital for emergency responders. She recommended keeping phones charged and having battery backups or solar chargers to maintain communication during outages.
Closing: Both guests urged listeners to sign up for emergency notifications, make a family evacuation plan (including pet arrangements) and practice it so responses become habitual. The podcast concluded with host Carson Forsman thanking the guests and directing listeners to Adams County social channels for more information.
