Our Approach

How We Think.
How We Work.
What You Get.

Principles

Every property is different.

Cookie-cutter mitigation doesn't work. Every prescription we write is based on what's actually growing on your land, how your property sits on the terrain, and what your structure needs - not a generic template applied the same way to every lot.

Wildfire safety shouldn't depend on your budget.

Every home in the valley faces the same fire. Not every homeowner has the same resources. If cost is a barrier, reach out anyway. We offer guided walk-arounds to help you understand what your property needs and how to tackle it yourself with our free checklist. When you're ready for documentation, we'll work with you on pricing. Nobody should lose their insurance because they couldn't afford to ask for help.

We follow the science, not shortcuts.

Everything we do is grounded in Colorado State Forest Service defensible space guidelines, consistent with NFPA 1140 standards and IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home recommendations. When we hand you a report, it holds up - with your insurer, with WRWC, and with anyone else who needs to verify the work.

Mitigation isn't deforestation.

We reduce fire risk while maintaining healthy, diverse forests. That means prioritizing fire-resistant species like aspen, retaining wildlife habitat where it's safe to do so, and improving overall forest health through thoughtful thinning. All decisions prioritize fire behavior and risk reduction, but the goal is a resilient landscape, not a clear-cut.

The report is yours.

Whether you hire us for the mitigation work or not, your WRAP (Wildfire Risk Assessment & Prescription) belong to you. Use it with your insurer, share it with your property manager, hand it to another contractor, or tackle the simpler items yourself and call us for the rest. No pressure, no strings.

Methods

The Assessment

Every project starts with a full on-site assessment. We walk every zone of your property - from the roof out to 100 feet, and beyond - and evaluate every structural component of your home. We're documenting:

Ground cover, vegetation, and fuel loading on and around the structure
Tree species, spacing, health, and fire behavior characteristics
Ladder fuels, dead and down material, and slash accumulations
Structural hardening: roof, vents, siding, eaves, windows, decks, and fencing
Access and emergency vehicle clearance
Propane, firewood, and other combustible storage
Slope, aspect, and terrain-driven fire behavior considerations
Forest type and species-specific risk factors

Everything is photographed and documented.

The WRAP Report

The assessment produces your WRAP - a Wildfire Risk Assessment & Prescription. This is a reader friendly, comprehensive report that includes:

Property overview with forest type, slope, aspect, and site-specific context
Zone-by-zone evaluation with notes explaining what needs attention and why
Full structural assessment covering every hardening component from roofing material to vent screening
Certification status with a clear explanation of what's driving the rating
Prioritized action plan with recommended work ranked by impact, estimated costs, and WRWC rebate eligibility
Before and after photo documentation tied to each zone
Next steps and timeline with recommended completion dates and your next scheduled re-assessment

The WRAP is formatted for Colorado HB 1182 insurance compliance. It gives your insurer exactly what they need to evaluate your risk and adjust your premium accordingly.

The Work

With your WRAP report, we provide a detailed quote based on the assessment findings. If you move forward with mitigation, we’ll discuss what you want the focus to be so the work is customized to your priorities.

In the field, our approach is methodical:

Zone 1 (0–5 feet): We create a noncombustible perimeter around your structure. All vegetation, flammable mulch, and combustible materials are removed or replaced.

Zone 2 (5–30 feet): We thin trees to achieve proper crown spacing, remove ladder fuels, prune lower branches, and eliminate high-risk species like ground juniper. We retain fire-resistant species and healthy mature trees where spacing allows.

Zone 3 (30–100 feet): We reduce forest density to slow fire spread and drop crown fire to the ground. Thinning is heavier on the inner edge and gradually allows more density toward the outer boundary. Dead trees, heavy slash, and continuous fuel beds are addressed.

Beyond The Zones (100+ feet): Standard defensible space extends 100 feet from the structure, but some properties need more - certain conditions can drive fire behavior that overwhelms standard zone distances. When our assessment identifies these conditions, we recommend extended mitigation.

Structural hardening guidance: We identify what your home needs - from vent screening to roof material - and provide specific recommendations with your WRAP. Some items you can handle yourself. For others, we can refer you to qualified contractors.

All slash is hauled off-site to the Gunnison County tree dump, where it's processed into Gunni Gold premium compost. Nothing goes to waste.

The Follow-Through

After the work is complete, we update your WRAP with post-mitigation conditions and photos. You receive a final report documenting your new certification status and any remaining items.

We also handle:

WRWC rebate documentation — we provide the invoices, photos, and contractor report needed for your cost-share reimbursement
Insurance documentation — your WRAP is designed to give your insurer the verification they need under HB 1182
Annual re-assessment — we recommend a semi-yearly or yearly check to maintain compliance and catch regrowth, new debris, or changes that affect your risk profile

Results

What you walk away with:

A safer property. Defensible space that meets or exceeds Colorado State Forest Service standards, with every zone evaluated and documented.

A certified report. A professional WRAP that documents your compliance status, structural assessment, and a clear path forward for any outstanding items. This is the documentation your insurer needs.

Insurance leverage. Under Colorado HB 1182, documented mitigation can reduce your premium. Your WRAP provides the evidence. We make sure it's formatted so your insurer can act on it.

Money back in your pocket. WRWC cost-share reimburses 50–75% of qualifying mitigation work. We handle the WRWC site visits and documentation so you don't leave money on the table.

A healthier forest. Thoughtful thinning improves species diversity, reduces beetle and disease susceptibility, and creates a more resilient landscape - not just a firebreak.

A clear plan. If anything remains after the initial work, your WRAP lays out exactly what's left, what it will cost, and when to do it. No guesswork.

Peace of mind through fire season.

Based on Colorado State Forest Service Home Ignition Zone guidelines and NFPA 1140 defensible space standards.

Veteran owned.
Based in Crested Butte, CO.