The Colorado State Forest Service is urging residents statewide to protect their homes from wind-blown embers, launching a "Be Ember Aware!" campaign during Wildfire Awareness Month as Colorado enters another potentially dangerous fire season.

Research shows that up to 90 percent of homes that ignite during wildfires do so because of embers rather than direct flame contact, the agency said. Embers can travel more than a mile ahead of a wildfire, landing on roofs, decks and in gutters and igniting homes long before the fire front arrives.

"Many people believe that if they don't live in a forest, they're safe from wildfire," said State Forester and CSFS Director Matt McCombs. "But the reality is that embers can travel great distances and ignite homes in suburban and even urban areas. Creating defensible space and hardening your home against embers can make all the difference."

The Colorado State Forest Service recommends the following steps to protect homes from embers:

• Clean roofs and gutters regularly to remove dead leaves, needles and other debris.
• Install metal mesh screening (1/8-inch) over vents to prevent embers from entering.
• Remove flammable materials within five feet of the home, including mulch, dead plants and firewood.
• Use noncombustible materials for decks, fences and other structures attached to the home.
• Maintain defensible space by creating zones of reduced vegetation around the home.

Wildfire Awareness Month is part of a statewide effort to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires through education, preparedness and community action. The service encourages all Coloradans to visit csfs.colostate.edu for more information on protecting their homes and families.