This page contains a lot of information and is a worthwhile read regarding fire in our area.
Please take the time to be familiar with the contents, especially the information on the slash pile and your use as an owner. Scroll down for SLASH PILE information and contact.
Wet Mountain Fire Protection District (Fire Department, Call 911)
Fire Mitigation Committee: Contact, (if link does not open properly, please type : cvoafiremitigation@gmail.com.
For current fire ban restrictions, please contact the Custer Counry Sheriff’s Office at 719-783-2270 or the Office of Emergency Management at 719-783-2410.
We ask all citizens to be fire conscious and aware of your surroundings. If you see or smell smoke, we encourage you to report it to authorities as soon as possible. For more information, please visit the Custer County Website www.custercountygov.com (OEM) and click on the Open Burn Ordinance. Fire Pit Ordinance
Prior to 2019, Cuerno Verde Pines subdivision had a history of a single fire caused by the action of an owner. Recently, two fires within the subdivision were caused by actions of owners. According to U.S. Forest Service research, eighty-five percent of wildfires are human caused. As the population of full-time residents, part-time residents and owners camping on vacant lots increases, risk of wildfire caused by an owner’s action increases. Two of the most damaging and costly wildfires in Colorado history were caused by camp fires.
Multiple complaints were received by the Association from full time residents concerned about owners of vacant lots camping on adjoining properties and creating camp fire rings in vegetated areas often under tree canopies. Their concern is well founded based on the history of Colorado wildfires.
Using Federal, State and County standards and regulations, the Association created a recreational fire pit policy. Vacant lots will be prohibited from the allowance for a recreational fire pit as there exists no access to a permanent water source for accomplishing complete extinguishment of an open flame fire. Residential owners wishing to create a recreational fire pit must follow the standard specified in the CVOA policy.
The Board has reminded owners in Board meetings and newsletters of the very high risk of wildfire in Cuerno Verde Pines and of the severe costs and penalties for causing a wildfire that damages property and endangers life. The purpose of the policy is to address the complaints from concerned residents by requiring open flame fire usage be safe as possible.
Covenant 9. TRASH: No trash, ashes, garbage, debris or other refuse shall be thrown or dumped on any land within the subdivision. There shall be no burning of refuse out of doors. Each property owner shall provide suitable receptacles for the temporary storage and collection of refuse and all such receptacles shall be screened from public view and protected from disturbance.
Because of the broad definition of “refuse”, all outdoor burning could be denied in Cuerno Verde Pines. After evaluation of Federal, State and Custer County regulations on outdoor open flames, the Association has crafted a policy allowing owners to enjoy a recreational fire for grilling hot dogs, marshmallows or simply enjoying a warming fire using a standard designed to avoid a catastrophic event resulting in property damage, injury or loss of life.
Re: Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2018 [FPA_FOD_20210617] (5th Edition-2021)
Slash Pile Information
Members,
Cuerno Verde Owners Association (CVOA) will allow the collection of branches (slash) from CVOA property owners. The collection site will not be in the open meadow below the clubhouse but instead the area behind the CVOA barn. The access road to the barn is directly off of the sharp corner of Clubhouse Way, below the clubhouse and east of the meadow. Please do not drive across the meadow. The area behind the barn is gated and locked and accessed only by appointment scheduled 72 hours in advance. To schedule a drop-off day, email a request to cvoafiremitigation@gmail.com Be prompt to your scheduled appointment, a member of the fire mitigation committee will meet you to unlock the gate and give direction where and how to stack branches for chipping. Access to the area will be closed periodically for contractors to chip the branches and haul away. Hours of operation will be Monday thru Saturday, 9am to 5pm closed Sunday. Check the calendar on the website as access to the collection site could be closed outside of normal operating hours due to weather or other events.
We, the members of CVOA, are very fortunate to have access to a collection site for the purpose of fuel mitigation around our homes. The slash pile is not to be used for clearing property prior to construction. Below you will find guidelines for use. Please adhere to the guidelines so our members may continue to have access to the collection site.
- Schedule an appointment to drop-off of branches through the CVOA website to be placed on the calendar 72 hours in advance, a phone number to be reached is required.
- Be prompt to your appointment, delays over 20 minutes will have to be rescheduled.
- Unload branches under the direction of the committee member.
- Branches up to 6 inch in diameter and under are allowed. Absolutely NO STUMPS, PINE NEEDLES, TRASH, CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, USED LUMBER or FENCING.
- Use 4 wheel drives if available to avoid spinning tires, be good stewards of the land.
- Please be courteous of the committee members’ time and off-load branches safely but expediently.
- Scout the area for hazards prior to maneuvering trailers and vehicles.
- The collection site is a wildfire environment, NO SMOKING!
Practicing social distancing between members is required until further notice. Thank you in advance for following collection site guidelines and for your cooperation in making our area more fire safe.
How a House Burns video
Ordinance listed with stages explained
Announcements during the 2019 Annual Meeting stated the following letters would be available to the membership for Insurance Purposes:
1.National-ISO Rating Clasification Letter
2. Notification of the new ISO rating from the Wet Mountain Fire Protection District
NEW: Wildfire Defensible Space Checklist ……..and ……….a new addition to this site: ____—- Defensible Space VIDEO: —– Just One Ember
Cuerno Verde Owners Association Community Wildfire Protection Plan – (CWPP)
A video shared by Matt Clark, Director, who provided fire risk assessments for our community!
FIRE MITIGATION CONTRACTORS
H&H Forestry was chosen as the Fire Mitigation Contractor for Cuerno Verde in 2020. Information to reach them and other contractors are listed below:
- H&H Forestry, Tyler 719-250-1108, https://www.handhforestry.net/
- Shawn Gaide 719-429-1676 coforearth@gmail.com
- Fire Shield, Casey Christensen 719-429-6181 fireshield@rock.com
- Dan Joles, Wet Mountain Fence & Farm Service LLC, wetmountainfenceandfarm@outlook.com 231-758-1198
- Swota Enterprises, Wildfire Mitigation, Ray Swota 719-783-4477 rswota@gmail.com (works with Casey Christensen).
- Bill Schultze-719-784-9035 openrangeland@gmail.com
Wild Fire Mitigation page of the CSFS : WILDFIRE
Are you Firewise? Education by the Colorado State Forest Service
Colorado State Forest Service Website: Click Here
Custer County Community Emergency Response Training information: CERT
72-Hour Family Emergency Kit and guidance: Click Here
Ready, Set, Go Preparing for Wildfires
Public Education Website of FireWise-USA
The Wet Mountain Fire Protection District recommends:
1. Removing all trees and bushes within thirty (30) feet of structures and maintaining grasses at a height of 4 to 6 inches.
2. Within 70 feet of structures, prune tree limbs to ten (10) feet above the ground, thin shrubs, and maintain grasses and weeds at a height of 4 to 6 inches.
3. Enclose the area under porches and decks to prevent accumulation of debris.
4. Place fireplace ashes in metal containers, cover and dispose of properly.
5. Use fire resistant building materials. Use UL approved fire retardants on highly combustible materials to reduce the chance of sparks causing fires.
6. Provide a water source such as a hose connected to your water heater or pump. Have shovels, rakes and hoes readily available.
7. Place fire extinguishers of adequate size near exits and be familiar with their operation!!
8. Plan adequate access to structures from roads, two ways if possible. Clear steep and narrow driveways.
9. Cooperate with your neighbors and help with fire suppression.
10. Do not burn leaves, debris, trash, rubbish, etc. Burning of refuse is prohibited!
11. Routinely clear twigs, needles and leaves from roofs, gutters, porches and decks.
12. Cooperate with local authorities and report any fire immediately.
13. Know your property location by road name or number and be able to provide an accurate location of the fire you are reporting. The Fire Department and Sheriff’s Office recommends all homeowners install a street address sign at the driveway to their property to allow for quick identification and response. *These signs are available at the main fire station in Westcliffe for purchase by order form.
For a nominal fee, property owners can contact the Wet Mountain FPD and have a representative perform a risk assessment and provide recommendations to mitigate fire risk on an owner’s property.
Special Note: The Risk Assessments have been done for the Community Wildfire Protection Plan by Matthew Clark, retired incident commander in the Colorado Springs area, at no charge to the Cuerno Verde Community.
