Wildlife Partners — a nonprofit organization that assists in creating wildfire-resistant communities across Boulder County — received the Wildfire Mitigation Award on Tuesday.
The award is the highest national honor an organization can receive for wildfire preparedness and mitigation, according to a news release from Boulder County.
“This recognition is a tribute to the unprecedented collaboration between a variety of stakeholders who increasingly recognize our need to adapt to the growing impacts of wildland fires," said Jim Webster, program manager for Wildfire Partners. "We established Wildfire Partners in 2014 knowing that this would require an intensive, comprehensive team effort. This award is for all the homeowners, staff, and partner organizations we work with, both inside and outside the county.”
The Wildfire Partners program began in 2014 in West Boulder County. Over the years, wildfires have become more prevalent in Boulder County due to increased human development and recreation, land management practices and factors such as steep terrain, drought, high temperatures and strong winds, according to the program’s website.
Wildfire Partners works with Boulder County, local fire protection districts, government agencies, insurance companies, community groups, realtors and researchers to clean up properties to help stop the spread of wildfires should they happen.
The program provides technical and financial support to homeowners, community-based outreach and education programs and local grant-making to organizations in Boulder County to help with wildfire mitigation. Nearly 3,800 households have participated in the program and committed to maintaining their homes, according to the news release.
After the Marshall fire in 2022 and the passing of the Wildfire Mitigation Sales Tax by Boulder County voters, the program can expand its services to include Eastern Boulder County.
