Jefferson-Como Fire Protection District

10/05/2026

Burn Permits, Now Easier on Your Phone

Managing your JCFPD burn permit is now more convenient. Use the mobile app to initiate your burn, manage your account, and check current fire restrictions.

Apple App Store: Download for iPhone https://apps.apple.com/us/app/burn-permits/id6762490128
Google Play: Download for Android
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fluentims.BurnPermits

Visit https://jcfpd.burnpermits.com/ for more information.

Always check current conditions and restrictions before burning.

09/28/2026

When firefighters are responding to your home, access matters. Rural mountain properties can present unique challenges for large emergency apparatus, especially on long, narrow or steep driveways.

Take a look at your driveway and ask: Can our largest fire apparatus safely reach your home?

Key access considerations include:

• 16 feet minimum driveway width
• 14.5 feet minimum vertical clearance
• 30-foot minimum curve radius for turns
• Hard, all-weather surface capable of supporting large fire apparatus
• Maximum 12% grade within the right-of-way
• Turnouts on longer drives, positioned so drivers can see from one turnout to the next
• Dead-end driveways over 300 feet require an approved turnaround

Gates matter, too: gates should not swing outward, and the fire department must have access to the gate's locking mechanism.

These requirements help ensure emergency crews can get in, maneuver, and get out safely. Your driveway isn't just how you get home. It's how we get to you.

09/26/2026

Before winter settles into the mountains, take five minutes to walk around your home.

✅ Clean leaves and pine needles away from the structure
✅ Check smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
✅ Inspect heating appliances and chimneys
✅ Clear debris from decks and around propane tanks
✅ Make sure your address is visible to emergency responders

Small maintenance tasks now can help reduce fire risk later.

Take five. Check your home. Protect what matters.

09/24/2026

In the mountains, dense vegetation can allow wildfire to move quickly from tree to tree and toward your home. One important mitigation strategy is creating space between tree crowns. In areas farther from your home, properly thinning vegetation can help interrupt continuous fuels and reduce the potential for fire to move through the forest canopy.

Look at your property from the perspective of a wildfire:

🌲 Are trees packed tightly together?
🔥 Can fire move continuously from one tree to another?
🏠 Could vegetation carry fire toward your home?

You don't have to clear your property. You can make it more resilient. Small, thoughtful mitigation projects can make a difference.

09/21/2026

When it comes to protecting your home from wildfire, the first few feet matter. Zone 0 - the area immediately surrounding your home (0-5 feet), should be kept as clean and defensible as possible.

Take a walk around your home and look for:

🍂 Leaves, pine needles, and other debris
🪵 Firewood or combustible materials against the structure
🌲 Vegetation touching the home
🪑 Combustible items stored underneath decks
🌿 Plants and landscaping that could carry fire to the structure

Creating a clean area around your home can help reduce the opportunity for wildfire to reach the structure. Start at the house. Work your way out.

09/19/2026

Fall colors bring increased traffic and pedestrian activity to Kenosha Pass. If you’re traveling through the area, please slow down and stay alert.

Motorists should watch for pedestrians near the highway, vehicles entering and leaving parking areas, sudden stops, and increased congestion.

If you’re visiting to enjoy the fall colors, use designated parking areas, stay well clear of traffic, and take extra care before crossing the highway. Never assume a driver can see you or has enough distance to stop safely.

The leaves are worth slowing down for. Give yourself extra time, be patient, and help keep Kenosha Pass safe for everyone.

09/18/2026

A campfire may look harmless when the flames are gone, but hot coals and ash can stay dangerously hot long after the fire appears to be out.

When you’re finished: Drown it. Stir it. Drown it again.

Keep adding water and stirring until everything is cool to the touch.

DEAD OUT. COLD OUT.

Enjoy the outdoors. Leave your campsite safely behind.

09/17/2026

FALL IS ALMOST HERE, BUT FIRE SEASON ISN’T OVER

As we head toward fall, cooler mornings and changing colors can make it feel like wildfire season is behind us. But here in the mountains, conditions can change quickly.

Dry vegetation, wind, and low humidity can still create conditions where a small fire can escape.

Whether you’re having a campfire, burning slash, or spending time outdoors, continue to use good judgment and take responsibility for every fire you start.

• Know before you burn.
• Have water nearby.
• Watch the wind.
• Never leave a fire unattended.

Enjoy the changing season and help us keep our community safe.

Jefferson-Como Fire Protection District
www.jcfpd.org

09/12/2026

A working smoke detector can provide the early warning you need to get out safely.

• Test your detectors monthly
• Replace batteries regularly
• Replace smoke detectors according to the manufacturer’s recommendation

A few minutes today can make a difference when it matters most.

09/11/2026