Week 5: Get Your Neighbors Involved

We addressed Zone 0 last week, and your neighbors undoubtedly saw you checking the distances between your home and vegetation, patio furniture, and any other potentially flammable objects. Now is a great time to get them involved in #FirePrepFriday, too!

For Week 6, I encourage you to tell your neighbors what you’ve discovered about wildfire preparedness and how it affects your geographic location. Share why it’s important to work as a community to mitigate and prepare before a disaster and reassure them that, when you take care of a task one week at a time, fire preparedness doesn’t have to feel so daunting.

As a visual learner, I greatly appreciate the Colorado Springs Fire Department’s (CSFD) Wildfire Mitigation Booklet. I attended a City of Colorado Springs event a couple months ago and took CSFD up on their offer to grab a stack of the booklets to share with my neighbors. It succinctly walks community members through the Ready, Set, and Go steps. If each of us shares a similar booklet or online resource with our neighbors, and then they share with their neighbors, and so on, just imagine how prepared a whole neighborhood will be. At the next block party, be sure to bring one of these booklets in addition to the cheese plate, veggie tray, and sparkling beverages.
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Cost: $0
Frequency: Acquire the latest version of your area’s documentation annually.

Are your neighbors aware of the fire risk in your area? Do your local fire department, city, or county services offer a handy booklet or online resource you can share with your community? If so, paste the link in the Comments.

Important Disclaimer: I am not a fire preparedness professional. I am merely sharing my research, opinions, and what I find that applies to my geographic and personal situations in hopes that it will help others. Please make sure that whatever steps and advice you follow are what is best for you.

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□️□ It’s Week 5 of the #FirePrepFriday series. Get your neighbors involved! That’s it. That’s the task. Of course, for more details, resources, tips, and links, visit my website: www.kristaleewest.com/fireprepfrid...

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— Krista West, Ph.D. (@rsfirenerd.bsky.social) April 25, 2025 at 12:57 PM