Firewise Info
Santa Fe Trail Ranch
Firewise Info
SFTR Firewise Certified Community
Santa Fe Trail Ranch became a FIREWISE-certified community in 2006, and has renewed our certification every year since.
To better understand what that means, please go to the following link:
Our Forest Health and Wildfire Mitigation Committee has developed and continually updates a Community Wildfire Protection Plan that guides ranch-wide volunteer mitigations efforts, that in the past have including both grant-funded prescription-driven major mitigation projects involving heavy equipment operated by contractors, and volunteer efforts by property owners using our own equipment and labor. The following is an excerpt from that document:
"The Santa Fe Trail Ranch (SFTR) Community Wildfire Protection Plan was originally prepared by Land Stewardship Associates, LLC at the request of the Santa Fe Trail Ranch Property Owners Association in 2006. Significant work has been accomplished on Santa Fe Trail Ranch each year since the creation of the original CWPP in the form of fuel reduction both collectively and by individual property owners. In 2015, it was determined by the community that another release of the SFTR CWPP would be valuable showing all the activities that have been done, reprioritizing goals for the future and assessing all structures for survivability if a wild land fire were to occur. Jim Webb from Land Stewardship Associates was contracted to do structure assessments and provide guidance. The Forest Health Committee of SFTR prepared the updated document and presented it to all the collaborating parties in Las Animas County for concurrence and signatures."
Community involvement by many property owners at many levels is required to keep our ranch safe, and the mitigation work done before fire season helps us all breathe a little easier when the fire danger increases. All property owners are encouraged to contact the FHWM committee for more information (see CONTACT at the top of this page).
On June 13, 2021 at the SFTR MOC, wildland firefighter Ryan Theler gave an extremely informative presentation about prevention and preparedness in case of wildfires in our area. Click HERE to watch a recording of the presentation.
Every SFTR property owner should read the brand new CSFS brochure The Home Ignition Zone - A guide to preparing your home for wildfire and creating defensible space.
OWNERS! New Firewise Property Owner Mitigation Form
Events/Projects
From Kenneth Dixon:
Update for 2024 Home Ignition Zone (HIZ) and Chipping
First, I want to thank everyone that took advantage of mitigating the -50ft around their homes and/or their roadways and stacking the limbs along the road for chipping. We have spent over 75 machine hours chipping this year, which has helped our community and its homes be more prepared in case of fire.
I want to update everyone that for the 2024 season that we will only be accepting fresh cut limbs from around your home based on the -50ft area for chipping during the months of April and May. Meaning if you want to start cutting in March that’s fine. Just stack on the edge of the road starting in April.
Please email or call us to let us know there are limbs ready to chip on your site. Our contact infois listed under FHWMC on this SFTR website.
Remember this will be for April and May only. We ask after Friday May 31, 2024, there should be no stacking of limbs along the road from you -50ft HIZ.
Please feel free to contact us with any questions.
Kenneth Dixon
SFTR POA Member
FHWMC Chairman
- CWPP Renewal (underway)
- For more information on upcoming trainings, mitigation efforts, or FireWise, please contact Ken Dixon kennethdi1962@yahoo.com.
