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Abbreviated Safety Survey [ If Conifer had a Fire]

This study explores the avoidable safety risks in Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) developments through extensive literature research since 2012. It highlights the inadequate mapping of high wildfire threat areas, insufficient wildfire hazard mitigation, and the limitations of fire departments in the face of the current wildfire threat. The study proposes solutions to improve wildfire risk mapping, mitigation requirements, fire suppression capability, safe large-scale evacuation, and zoning and building codes.

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Abbreviated Safety Survey [ If Conifer had a Fire]

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  1. Abbreviated Safety Survey[If Conifer had a Fire] Gary Barrett 31228 Kings Valley West Conifer, Colorado 80433 Findings as a result of extensive literature research since 2012 including use of CSFS wildfire risk model, work with the local fire protection district, and research to update the Elk Creek Fire Protection District CWPP The views of a former Naval Aviation Safety and Investigation Officer

  2. Loss Causative AgentsContributing to Avoidable Loss • Inadequate mapping of high wildfire threat areas in the JEFFCO WUI • Insufficient wildfire hazard mitigation • Mitigation requirements /defensible space not well understood • Fire Department capabilities and limitations not recognized or not considered with respect to development density • Fire Departments’ suppression capability in the 285 Corridor is significantly overmatched by the current wildfire threat • No JEFFCO evacuation plans or studies • JEFFCO development generally follows an insufficiently modified metropolitan suburban development model that when utilized in the WUI, permits avoidable increased risksand avoidable loss.

  3. Inadequate understanding of mitigation and defensible space Rossmere St. [Waldo Canyon fire]. These homes were surrounded by green lawns. The unmitigated fuel was the adjacent house. You cannot effectively mitigate your property if the fuel to be removed is your neighbor’s house or your neighbor’s trees

  4. Case 18-107113 RZ (an example, there are other high density proposals) https://permitsearch.jeffco.us/amandaItoI/PublicDocs/Rezoning/18-107113RZ%2010250%20County%20Hwy%2073/5.%20Public%20Hearing%20Documents/1%20PC%20Hearing/Proposed%20Official%20Development%20Plan.pdf • 3.1 Use area 1; residential 10.1 acres • 3.1.1 Maximum total of 101 residential dwelling units • 4.2 Setbacks • 4.2.3 5ft side clearance to property line • 4.2.4 10ft rear clearance to property line • 4.3 …“however, eaves, roof overhang, window wells, and fireplaces may protrude 24 inches into setback” • 4.4… “Primary residential structures are limited to 35' (heights) measured in accordance to the Jefferson County Zoning Resolution.” • End result: 6-10 ft structure side clearance is a cascading fire risk. 35 ft permitted structure height exceeds cognizant fire department capabilities. No apparent recognition of terrain slope. • This type of development has been shown to be at high risk in WUI fires and by fire studies. The increased risk is avoidable.

  5. Case 18- 107113 RZ • Architect’s drawing shows 24 multifamily buildings. • [101 dwelling units] Inadequate Defensible Space. Excessive structure height. Generally exceeds fire department capability to protect. Places additional lives and property at avoidablerisk. Compare this proposal with the next slide 10.1 acres residential 15.3 acres open space

  6. Mountain Shadows Before and AfterWaldo Canyon Fire [Jun 2012] We have to learn from past mistakes Dense development in the WUI is not safe Photo by RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post

  7. SummaryAddress Avoidable Safety Risks • WUI fires create "cascading ignitions” in dense developments. The intensity, spread and destructive power of a WUI fire increases rapidly as more and more structures are ignited. Only 48 of the 344 destroyed homes in Mt. Shadows were ignited directly from the wildfire. Structure-to-structure fire spread from these early ignitions resulted in the cascading ignition of the other 296 destroyed homes. • “defensible space definitions do not consider defensibility from structure to structure fire spread or defensibility from dangerous topographic configurations” https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2015/11/nist-study-colorado-wildfire-shows-actions-can-change-outcomes https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/TechnicalNotes/NIST.TN.1910.pdf • JEFFCO Master Plan and Land Development Regulations do not recognize the blowing ember threat or cascading ignition risk. https://www.jeffco.us/2468/Comprehensive-Master-Planhttps://www.jeffco.us/2463/Land-Development-Regulation • Today’s higher density development proposals pose an avoidable unacceptable safety risk to a WUI community. • Improve wildfire risk mapping • Improve mitigation requirements and defensive space definitions, and terrain considerations • Significantly Improvefire suppression capability • Insure safe large scale evacuation • Upgrade zoning and building codes [2018 IWUI] • Development should not proceed until we have addressed avoidable risk.

  8. Backup – defining high threat areas Coffee Park subdivision [Tubbs fire] was not mapped in a high risk area. The blowing ember threat was and is not recognized. Coffee Park was destroyed overnight.

  9. Backup – Evacuation Plans/ Capacity A single car accident blocked 285 in both directions. A large scale evacuation will be problematic.

  10. PARTIAL LIST OF REFERENCES • http://www.paradise.ca/en/town-hall/resources/Municipal-Plan/Municipal-Plan-July-2017/Development-Regulations-July-6-2017---Adoption.pdf • https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/TechnicalNotes/NIST.TN.1910.pdf • https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/12 LNFWC Final Report.pdf • https://www.jeffco.us/DocumentCenter/View/482/Hazard-Mitigation-Plan-PDF • https://www.jeffco.us/2468/Comprehensive-Master-Plan • https://www.jeffco.us/DocumentCenter/View/586/Jefferson-County-Community-Wildfire-Protection-Plan-PDF • https://static.colostate.edu/client-files/csfs/pdfs/FIRE2012_1_DspaceQuickGuide.pdf • https://headwaterseconomics.org/wildfire/homes-risk/building-costs-codes/ • http://www.co.summit.co.us/885/Chipping-Program • https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2015/11/nist-study-colorado-wildfire-shows-actions-can-change-outcomes • https://planningforwildfire.org/what-we-do/ • https://static.colostate.edu/client-files/csfs/pdfs/firewise-construction2012.pdf • https://www.coloradowildfirerisk.com/ • https://www.flameseal.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/2015-Wildfire-Hazard-Risk-Report-1.pdf

  11. PARTIAL LIST OF REFERENCES • https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-coffey-park-explainer-20171011-story.html • https://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_gtr114.pdf • https://wildfiretoday.com/documents/CSFC-Testimony-2016.pdf • https://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_gtr289.pdf • https://wildfiretoday.com/documents/Black_Forest_Fire_EPSO_AA_Report.pdf • https://www.verisk.com/insurance/campaigns/location-fireline-state-risk-report/ • https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/all-codes-and-standards/list-of-codes-and-standards/detail?code=1141 • https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/all-codes-and-standards/list-of-codes-and-standards/detail?code=1144 • https://finance-commerce.com/2017/10/rethinking-plans-for-californias-urban-fire-risk/ • https://www.centraloregonlandwatch.org/update/2019/1/16/success-in-landwatchs-advocacy-for-a-new-zone-to-limit-wildfire-risk-for-west-of-bend • https://www.opb.org/news/article/bend-oregon-wildfire-westside-transect-zone/?utm_campaign=FirstLook&utm_source=firstlook&utm_medium=email • https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/IWUIC2018/chapter-1-scope-and-administration • https://www.jeffco.us/2463/Land-Development-Regulation

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