Colorado has recently felt the increasing effects of devastating wildfires. Federal and state agencies have been working hard to prevent the risk of catastrophic wildfires on public lands, but 60% of Colorado’s land is privately owned. Wildfire isn’t contained by property lines and landowners in Log Hill Mesa set out to reduce the risk of wildfire spread on their property.

The Montgomery family partnered with Colorado West Land Trust, West Region Wildfire Council, and Log Hill Fire Protection District to protect their land not only from development, but also from the potential spread of damaging wildfires. Together, the groups improved the property by spacing out the pinion and juniper trees to decrease the risk of crown fire spread within the canopy of the ponderosa pine. They also worked to foster diversity on the landscape in an effort to lower the threat of disease spread and bark beetle infestation. Native seed mix was planted to keep the flames low in an event of a fire.

Funded by Great Outdoors Colorado and Colorado State Forest Service, this work helps prevent severe wildfire and promotes healthy forests and wildlife habitat. This extensive fire mitigation project that will serve as a fire break, potentially protecting over 650 homes in the Log Hill community. To learn more about accessing resources available to private landowners to conduct forest health and fire mitigation work, please reach out to Colorado West Land Trust, West Region Wildfire Council, or the Colorado State Forest Service.