Fire mitigation is a pressing concern for Colorado communities.
There are bills in the Colorado State Legislature that, if passed and signed by the governor, would apply artificial intelligence to fight wildfire SB25-022 and to for wildfire detection devices, such as cameras, SB25-011.
There is a bill that would allow property owners the opportunity to appeal an insurance company’s assessment of their property’s risk for fire, a measure aimed at lowering insurance premiums, HB25-1182.
There is a bill to create a fund for damage caused by prescribed burns SB 25-007. And there is a bill that would require the Division of Fire Prevention and Control to display both emergency information and wildfire updates for each county in the state on its website, SB 25-015.
Mitigation grants
In addition to legislative action, Larimer County, which has had the most has had more federally-declared disasters in the State of Colorado since 1965 than any other county, has wildfire mitigation grant money available for community-led mitigation projects.
The purpose of the Larimer County Office of Emergency Management’s Community Mitigation Grant program is to remove financial barriers and catalyze efforts on a grassroot level to reduce wildfire risks.
Since 2022, more than $200,000 grants of up to $10,000 have been made to 25 recipients for 34 projects over three annual grant cycles.
The range of projects that have received grants have included mitigation treatments on community spaces, roadside fuel removal and improvements to community evacuation routes, home ignition zone and defensible space work, slash chipping and hauling, building, and equipping of community mitigation tool libraries, and wildfire preparedness outreach and education.
Project proposals are awarded through a competitive application process. Eligible applicants include community groups, local non-profit organizations, and charitable foundations. Projects must be located in Larimer County and must mitigate the risk from one or more hazards.
The application period closes on Sunday, March 9, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.
Click here for detailed information about the grant program including the grant application.