Wildfire Mitigation

Boulder County Firefighters Association Site Plan Review Base Standards

The following list of standards is supported by the Boulder County Firefighters Association (BCFFA) as minimum requirements that MAY be included as a condition of the Site Plan Review approval. The local fire district may modify these requirements as part of the district's Site Plan Review referral.

Defensible Space

• Must meet minimums standards set by the Colorado State Forest Service

Emergency Water Supply

Fire Department Sprinkler Connection

• 1-1/2" (for NFPA 13D systems only).

Cisterns

• Minimum size: 1,800 gallons (may be larger capacity depending upon individual fire district requirements).
• Must be kept full at all times.
• If multiple tanks are used, they must be tied together at the bottom with a 6" pipe.
• All tanks must be vented with 4" pipe.

Dry Hydrant Connections

• All emergency water supplies (i.e. cisterns) must have a dry hydrant connection or a minimum 12" diameter removable cap for drafting.
• Dry hydrants in cisterns must be in lowest tank of multiple tanks.
• Dry hydrants shall be constructed of 6" diameter pipe (minimum schedule 40 PVC).
• All threads must be National Fire (NH, NSF).
• Dry hydrant connection: 6" w/ cap.

Cistern and Pond Vehicle Access

• Within 8 feet if bottom of cistern or pond is not more than 8 feet below vehicle access point.
• Within 6 feet if bottom of cistern or pond is not more than 12 feet below vehicle access point.
• If a dry hydrant fitting is installed, access may be within 18 feet from the hydrant and not more than 8 feet above the bottom of the cistern.
• Water in cisterns and ponds that do not meet the above criteria shall not be considered unusable.

Driveway Access:

Pullouts

• Must be provided every 400 feet from last 2-lane road (fire district may increase spacing in special circumstances).
• Minimum 25 feet wide by 40 feet long.

Turnarounds

• Shall be provided within 150 feet of the house (either a 70 foot diameter turnaround or hammerhead "T"). The "T" must be a minimum of 70 feet long with a 20 foot turning radius applied to both sides of the "T". The "T" stem shall be a minimum of 20 feet wide and 35 feet long.
• Maximum grade of the turnaround must be no greater than 2%.