Over 70,000 wildfires occur across the U.S. annually and burn more than five million acres of land, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Since no home is truly fireproof, it is important for you and your family to take precautions to protect your safety and your most prized possessions before, during and after a wildfire. Consider these tips from the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association:

Landscape Smart

Create a zone that will slow down the blaze and potentially direct it around your property. Take the following precautions within 30 feet of your home (50 feet if you live in a heavily wooded area or 100 feet if you reside on a hillside):

• Plant trees at least 10 feet apart.
• Remove dead or dying trees and shrubs from your yard.
• Install and maintain an irrigation system.
• Clear your roof, gutters and eaves of excess debris.
• Trim branches so they do not extend over your roof/chimney.
• Move firewood at least 50 feet away from your home and clear the area 10 feet around them.
• Do not connect wooden fences directly to your home.

Build or Remodel Smart

In addition to your landscaping, the type of material used in your home will also protect it against damage. Take these recommendations into consideration when building or remodeling:

• Use only non-combustible roofing materials.
• Box in eaves, fascias, soffits and subfloors with fire-resistant materials, such as treated wood.
• Install spark arresters in chimneys.
• Enclose the undersides of decks with fire-resistant materials.
• Cover exterior walls with fire-resistant materials, such as stucco, stone or brick.
• Use double-paned or tempered glass for all exterior windows.

In case of possible evacuation, and only if you have enough warning, consider packing the following items:

• Social Security cards
• Driver's licenses  
• House deed
• Vehicle titles
• Marriage license
• Birth certificates
• Insurance policies
• Home inventory list/photos
• Health insurance cards
• Prescription medications  
• Valuable jewelry
• Photographs/home videos  
• One week's worth of clothing
• Pets with ID tags, carriers, and pet food

If you are on pre-evacuation alert take photos or video of personal possession--particularly antiques, artwork or custom/expensive items. Do this only if you have spare time--put safety FIRST!

Click here for an insurance evacuation checklist, further wildfire information, or to download Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association's free Wildfire & Insurance Guide with homeowner disaster preparedness tips.

Where can one find an attractive yield with interest rates currently at record lows, but with potential of moving higher in the near future? Dividend paying stocks have been attractive from a yield and total return perspective, but you may not want the risks inherent to the stock market. So what is a viable alternative? Opportunities can be found in the renaissance taking place within domestic energy.

The article, MLPs: Harnessing the U.S. Energy Boom, explores the topic of domestic energy and is written by one of the fund managers for SteelPath, which was recently purchased by Oppenheimer Funds. Steelpath invests directly in a diversified group of Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs) which alleviate some of the traditional downsides to these investments, including illiquidity, investment minimums, and K-1s. Depending on your objective, MLPs can have very attractive dividend yields and offer the potential for significant upside return as the infrastructure and demand for domestic resources continue to expand. This is an option worth looking into if you are looking for an alternative to stocks and bonds, providing a high total return in a non-correlating asset class.

Contact Mike Edwards at (720) 858-6289 to discuss options that are right for you.