Former Pikes Peak Newspapers staffer Breeanna Jent has overseen the publication of the July 15 issue and is submitting this guest column from the editor this week.

As has become seemingly inevitable every year, Colorado is on fire. Literally.

At the time of the writing of this column, 16 wildfires are actively blazing across Colorado. Collectively, they’ve so far burned up nearly 240,000 total acres, destroyed hundreds of structures, forced entire towns to evacuate and claimed the lives of three courageous firefighters, Emily Barker, Nick Hutcherson and Sydney Watson.

By the morning of July 10, the largest — the Aspen Acres fire blazing across Fremont, Pueblo and Custer counties — had grown to 97,083 acres and was only 20% contained.

It’s a heartbreaking fact of life that Coloradans must contend with wildfire risks every day, and residents in the Pikes Peak region are no stranger to this. Firefighters just battled the 24 fire that broke out in March near mile marker 24 on Colorado 115, which burned 7,405 acres in El Paso, Fremont and Pueblo counties. The Waldo Canyon (18,247 acres) and Black Forest (14,280 acres) fires, which burned in El Paso County in June 2012 and June 2013, respectively, are among the state’s 10 most destructive wildfires.

Wildfire risk increases with ongoing drought, high winds, warmer temperatures and the number of people moving into wildfire-prone areas. According to the Colorado State Forest Service’s wildfire mitigation webpage, just under half of all state residents live in the wildland-urban interface, areas where homes and other structures are close to or within natural terrain and flammable vegetation.

Our local and state fire officials warn us constantly to be prepared; to some, it may sound like a broken record. But it’s incidents like these that remind us why it’s so essential to be aware and prepared at all times.

The Colorado State Forest Service provides some tips for readying ourselves and our homes for wildfires. This nonexhaustive list includes the following:

1. Prepare your home and create a defensible space around it to reduce its chances of igniting during a wildfire. There are several low-cost and practical ways to start, such as regularly clearing leaves, needles and other debris from decks, roofs and gutters. Residents can move items under decks or porches to a designated storage area. Mow grasses within 30 inches of the home to 4 inches tall or shorter.
2. Have a plan and supplies. Know your evacuation zone. Put together an evacuation plan for all people and pets living in your home. Set a designated emergency meeting spot outside of the fire hazard area. Plan and practice several evacuation routes. Put together a “go bag” packed with supplies including water, nonperishable food items, first aid kits, flashlights, battery-powered radios, an extra set of car keys and credit cards, a map marked with evacuation routes and more. Sign up with your city’s and/or county’s emergency notification system, such as Peak Alerts in El Paso and Teller counties: elpasoteller911.org/peak-alerts
3. Review your homeowner’s and auto insurance policies. Double-check what your policies cover and what they don’t. The Colorado State Forest Service says important aspects to consider include additional living expenses, replacement versus cash value, and when your insurance kicks in during an evacuation. Speak with your insurance company to make changes to your policies or to ask additional questions.

For downloadable checklists as well as more tips and information about how you can better prepare yourself, your family, your home and your property for wildfire, visit the state forest service website at csfs.colostate.edu/wildfire-mitigation and csfs.colostate.edu/live-wildfire-ready.

The United Way is operating a donation and distribution center at 1591 Taos Road in Pueblo for those displaced by the Aspen Acres fire. For more information about how you can volunteer, donate supplies or make a monetary donation, visit unitedwaysoco.org/emergencyinfo.