Castle Rock, Co – The number of large wildfires in North America has increased four-fold, with 330,000 wildfires recorded each year. More than 46 million homes in 70,000 communities are located in Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) areas.

“There’s no such thing as a wildfire season anymore,” says Matt Osborn, President, Castle Rock Professional Firefighters. “Wildfires are occurring more frequently near and within urban settings across North America as a warming climate and expanded development continue to encroach on wilderness areas. Everyone in the community must be prepared, aware of their surroundings, and ready to act early in the event of a wildfire.”

“Planning ahead for these fires can really help in reducing the total number of wildfires and their potential impact,” says Osborn. “To start, it’s important to create a 30- to 100-foot safety zone around your home and locate outside water sources that can help put out a fire.”

Castle Rock Professional Firefighters recommend the following prevention tips:

Tips for Preventing a Wildfire

• Contact 9-1-1, the local fire department, or the park service if you notice an unattended or out-of-control fire.
• Never leave a campfire unattended. Completely extinguish the fire—by dousing it with water and stirring the ashes until cold—before sleeping or leaving the campsite.
• When camping, take care when using and fueling lanterns, stoves, and heaters. Make sure lighting and heating devices are cool before refueling. Please do not dispose of flammable liquids by tossing them on the ground, and storing fuel away from appliances.
• Do not discard cigarettes, matches, and smoking materials from moving vehicles or anywhere on park grounds. Be sure to extinguish cigarettes before disposing of them.

Your Castle Rock Professional Firefighters remind you that droughts increase the risk for wildfires. 

Do not fight wildfires on your own – call 9-1-1 immediately.

For more information, review the basics of defensible space and the “home ignition zone,” Town of Castle Rock Wildfire Safety, and Town of Castle Rock “Community Wildfire Protection Plan 2022.”