Fire mitigation, forestry & excavation services
Our crew has spent a lifetime working outdoors in the Colorado mountains. We reduce wildfire fuels and create defensible space, take on land clearing and forestry work from hand crews to heavy equipment, and handle the grubbing, dirt moving and excavation that go with it. The goal is the same on every job: a property that's safer, cleaner, healthier and easier to defend.
“We do what we say we're gonna do, when we say we're gonna do it.”
Fire mitigation & defensible space
Wildfire moves through surface fuels, climbs ladder fuels into tree crowns, and spreads from crown to crown. We break that chain. Following Colorado State Forest Service home ignition zone guidelines, we thin trees, remove ladder fuels and clear brush so a fire is more likely to stay on the ground, where it's slower and easier to fight.
| Zone | Distance from home | What we do |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | 0–5 ft | Clear flammable vegetation, needles and debris from around the foundation, deck and outbuildings |
| Zone 2 | 5–30 ft | Thin trees to at least 10 ft between crowns, prune lower limbs 6–10 ft up, space out shrubs, mow grasses short |
| Zone 3 | 30–100 ft | Thin for 6–10 ft crown spacing, open up meadows between tree groups, remove dead and diseased trees |
We keep healthy, well-spaced trees and the character of your land. Fire mitigation done right should look like a well-managed forest, not a clear-cut.
What's included
- Defensible space creation and maintenance
- Tree thinning and ladder fuel removal
- Scrub oak (Gambel oak) and brush reduction
- Slash chipping, mulching or haul-off
- Help preparing a scope of work for Douglas County cost-share and NRCS applications
Douglas County can pay up to half
The county's Wildfire Mitigation Cost-Share Program matches 50% of eligible costs, up to $25,000 for individual homeowners and $50,000 for community projects. Applications open in set windows each year, and no work can start before the county signs the contract, so it pays to plan early. Call us and we'll walk you through it.
Land clearing, forestry thinning & mulching
From a single overgrown lot to acreage and ranch land, we clear what you don't want and protect what you do. Selective thinning opens up crowded stands so the remaining trees get more light and water. Forestry mulching grinds brush and small trees in place, leaving a layer of chips that protects the soil and slows regrowth.
- Selective tree thinning and forest health work
- Tree removal, including hazard and beetle-killed trees
- Scrub oak and brush clearing
- Forestry mulching and mastication
- Stump removal and debris cleanup
- Meadow and field mowing
Excavation, grubbing & dirt moving
Grubbing pulls stumps and root systems out of the ground so the site is ready for building, grading or planting. We handle that along with dirt moving and light excavation, with practical equipment experience and a clean, property-conscious approach.
- Grubbing and stump and root removal
- Site preparation and grading support
- Dirt moving, fill and spreading
- Drainage preparation
- Access and driveway clearing
Additional outdoor & property services
Your outdoor handymen, with the equipment and experience for the property work other crews pass on.
- Property cleanup and debris removal
- Storm and wind damage cleanup
- Trail, road and driveway maintenance
- Access clearing for utilities and equipment
- Mowing and seasonal upkeep
How we work
From property walk to clean finish
Walk the property
We learn your goals, look at the fuels, slope and access, and agree on scope.
Build a clear plan
You get a written estimate that lists the work, the equipment, the timing and the price.
Do the work safely
We keep you updated, protect what you want kept, and respect the property.
Leave a clean finish
We walk the finished job with you and recommend what to maintain next.
Frequently asked questions
What is defensible space?
Defensible space is the area around a home where fuels have been reduced so a wildfire slows down and drops to the ground as it approaches. The Colorado State Forest Service divides it into three zones: 0–5 feet, 5–30 feet and 30–100 feet from the house.
How much does fire mitigation cost?
It depends on acreage, slope, how dense the trees and brush are, and how the slash is handled. We walk the property and give you a written estimate for free.
Will Douglas County help pay for fire mitigation?
Often, yes. Douglas County's Wildfire Mitigation Cost-Share Program matches 50% of eligible costs for properties in the county's wildland-urban interface, up to $25,000 for individual homeowners. Work can't start until the county has approved the project, so contact us before the application window opens.
What happens to the trees and brush you cut?
We chip or mulch it on site, haul it off, or cut firewood-length rounds for you to keep. Your choice.
How often does defensible space need maintenance?
Grasses need mowing every season. Scrub oak and other shrubs go incredibly quickly in Colorado, so plan on follow-up treatment every 6–18 months depending on density and proximity to structures.
Do you only do fire mitigation?
No. We also clear land, pull stumps, move dirt, do light excavation and handle general outdoor property work. Many customers use us for mitigation and the projects that follow it.
What areas do you serve?
Douglas County, including Castle Rock, Roxborough, Sedalia, Larkspur and Franktown, plus nearby Front Range communities. Larger projects outside the area are considered case by case.
Tell us what your property needs
Walk it with us and get a free, written estimate.