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Learn more about how to prepare for wildfires, what to do when they occur, plus what BHEC is doing to curb wildfire risks and protect the electric grid.
One of the most basic tips for wildfire preparation is creating defensible space around your home—thinning or removing trees and brush and picking up pine needles, grasses, and finer fuels.
Homeowners should focus on 3 home ignition zones:
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. (2021, April 29). Make your home wildfire defensible. https://www.fs.usda.gov/features/make-your-home-wildfire-defensible
Colorado State Forest Service. (2021, May 4). Protect your home & property from wildfire. Colorado State University. https://csfs.colostate.edu/wildfire-mitigation/protect-your-home-property-from-wildfire/
Zone 1
Immediate Zone
(0–5 feet from the home)
This is the most vulnerable area.
Remove all tree limbs and vegetation within this zone. No tree branches should overhang or touch the house, and any limbs that extend into this space should be cut back.
Eliminate shrubs and other flammable plants completely.
Replace mulch with non-combustible material like rock or concrete.
Ensure no limbs come near vents, eaves, or decks.
Zone 2
Intermediate Zone
(5–30 feet from home)
Prune and thin trees to minimize ladder fuels that can allow a surface fire to climb into the canopy.
Trim lower branches 6 to 10 feet from the ground.
Maintain at least 10 feet of clearance between the roof and overhanging limbs.
Space remaining trees and shrubs to prevent fire from moving between them.
Clear vegetation around fences, sheds, and outdoor structures.
Zone 3
Extended Zone
(30–100 feet from home)
Tree thinning in this zone helps break up continuous fuel beds.
Maintain at least 12 feet of space between tree canopies to disrupt crown fire spread.
Remove small conifers growing beneath mature trees to prevent fire from laddering up.
Eliminate leaf and needle debris regularly to keep the area clear.
Trim vegetation back from driveways and access routes to support emergency access.
With safety as our highest priority, we’re taking constructive steps toward mitigating the threat of wildfires in the communities where we live and serve.
After several years of collecting data, reviewing old plans, and implementing new ones BHEC finalized it's Fire Mitigation Plan in October 2024.
The plan extensively details the co-op's:
efforts to mitigate threat of electrical equipment ignited wildfires
addresses the unique features of it's service territory
maintenance plan of it's transmission and distribution (T&D) assets
At BHEC, our dedication to providing safe and reliable electric service is our highest priority. A cornerstone of this commitment is our comprehensive, proactive work that protects our members and our system from outages and potential wildfire risk.
We systematically manage vegetation on all our transmission and distribution power lines for public safety and fire prevention.
Line Patrol & Inspection: Our crews conduct systematic line patrols across our extensive mileage to ensure the integrity of the electric system. We log all potential hazards, including encroaching trees, equipment wear, and other maintenance concerns. This frequent inspection is crucial for early hazard identification.
Targeted Tree Trimming: We strategically trim and remove incompatible vegetation to maintain the required line clearance in our Right-of-Way (ROW) zone. By trimming and removing hazard encroaching trees, we reduce fuel loading and prevent tree-related outages.
We proactively manage the physical infrastructure of our system to ensure its integrity and strength. We initiated a formal Wood Pole Assessment Plan to inspect and test our poles against National Electric Safety Code (NESC) design strength requirements.
Systematic Inspection: A third-party contractor inspects and tests poles on a cycle recommended by the RUS Bulletin.
Intrusive Testing: Poles suspected of deficiencies are subjected to intrusive inspection to identify problems such as rot, decay, or insect damage. Based on the results, necessary wood treatments are administered to extend the life and strength of our poles.
