Wildfire Partners pilots project in eastern Boulder County

Boulder County has launched a new pilot project to expand wildfire preparedness into the eastern part of the county.

Wildfire Partners, the county’s wildfire mitigation and homeowner preparedness program, will offer 100 pilot program participants living on the plains in unincorporated Boulder County a free, on-site home assessment with a wildfire mitigation specialist.

With the western United States entering a new era of climate-driven wildfires and following the Marshall fire, Wildfire Partners said in a release that wildfire mitigation and homeowner preparedness have become important priorities for many individuals and communities. This includes the plains, not just the foothills and mountains.

Wildfire Partners is currently assisting 3,000 residents in western Boulder County. The new Wildfire Partners Plains Pilot Project will extend that technical assistance to residents in eastern Boulder County.

“Boulder County has been actively engaged in wildfire mitigation efforts since the 1989 Black Tiger Fire," Wildfire Partners program coordinator Jim Webster said in the release. "However, our efforts have been focused in the foothills and mountains.

“The Wildfire Partners Plains Pilot Project allows us to assess the interest in mitigation among residents on the plains and adjust our program for new partners. Following the Marshall fire, we think there is a large demand from plains homeowners who want to learn how to best prepare for future wildfires.”

The pilot program participants will learn how to harden their structures and create defensible space to reduce the ignition potential of their homes. They will also receive a customized report that includes a checklist of items to mitigate, annotated photos of their vulnerabilities and information on wildfire mitigation and preparedness.

“Unfortunately, the Marshall fire dramatically illustrated that we are in a new reality of risk from wildfire in eastern Boulder County,” Boulder County Commissioner Matt Jones said. “I encourage unincorporated Boulder County residents to participate in the award-winning Wildfire Partners program whether you suffered a loss during the Marshall fire or not. Wildfire Partners is great at making suggestions for your home to improve its chance in a wildfire.”

The expansion of the program follows a move by commissioners earlier this month to require ignition resistant materials for new builds on the eastern side of Boulder County, something that is already required to the west. The expansion of the Wildfire Partners program is meant to address wildfire resistance for already existing homes and buildings.

Applicants for the pilot program must live in unincorporated Boulder County to participate. Residents in the incorporated areas of Longmont, Boulder, Erie, Lafayette, Louisville and Superior are not eligible at this time.  

“With climate change causing the increase risk of wildfires worldwide, working with Wildfire Partners to help reduce the fire risk around our home was one of the smartest things I've done to help protect our home,” says Howard Gordon, a Wildfire Partners participant. 

Interested residents can apply through the program’s website at www.WildfirePartners.org. Applications are due June 30.