Owning property in Ruidoso means that property owners will or already have become familiar with the village’s fire protection ordinances such as the Fuels Management Standards (sec. 42-80 Ruidoso Code of Ordinances). These forest management codes have been put in place to protect the village and property owners from catastrophic wildfire. Managing the forest on your property can be beneficial in the following ways:
- reduced fire hazard
- reduced insect damage
- increased property values
- enhanced natural landscape
Forest management involves the removal of all flammable materials around your house. It also includes the removal of dead trees/branches, fallen leaves/pine needles, and cutting long grass. In some circumstances, properties with dense tree stands and other vegetation will need to be thinned to reduce fuels for a potential wildfire.
You can find more detailed information about village ordinances and fire mitigation standards at https://www.ruidoso-nm.gov/forestry.
Whether you need to bring your property into compliance with the Village of Ruidoso’s Fuels Management Standards ordinance or just want the peace of mind that comes with owning a fire mitigated property. Through our services we can significantly reduce the risk of fire damage to your property. If you are located in Ruidoso, we will perform the necessary tasks described in the Fuels Management Standards. Depending upon your property, we may need to do more or less work to complete our fire mitigation service. Some of these tasks include:
- rake pine needles 30 feet from structures
- remove all flammable material like scrap lumber and plant cuttings 30 feet from structures
- remove all standing dead trees
- prune the bottom branches of small trees (less than 20 feet tall) about 25% or their height
- prune the bottom branches of taller trees (more than 20 feet tall) about 6 feet up from the ground
- prune limbs that are close to the top of your fireplace
- remove needles and leaves from your gutters
- locate firewood more than 20 feet from your home
For property owners in Lincoln County and outside of Ruidoso, we will need to consult with you to determine the best fire mitigation strategy on your property. Please give us a call at 575-937-2605 to discuss your fire mitigation needs.