Transcript:
When the Stone Canyon fire broke out last year near Lyon, Colorado, Nick Schneider and his wife saw most of their property rise in the flames.
But the couple's house itself is lucky – thanks to their efforts to prevent the fire from reaching the house.
Schneider: “There is a very clear line and everything outside is completely burned. Then in one area, through the design, the fire fuel runs out.”
The couple had contacted a group called Wildfire Partners, a group that helped Colorado homeowners prepare for the wildfire in the months leading up to the fire.
Schneider said the organization sent experts to inspect its property and worked with them to identify steps that could be taken to help protect their homes.
Their plans include pruning tall grass and bushes that will fuel the fire, install ground covers such as stone and gravel, and removing flammable items such as firewood from the house.
Schneider said the efforts paid off.
Schneider: “I'm 100% sure that if we didn't take these steps with our wildfire partners, our house would burn.”
As the climate warms, the risk of wildfires is growing. But, as Schneider's experience shows, people can take action to help protect their homes.
Report Credit: Ethan Freedman/Chavobart Digital Media
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