Fire restrictions lifted
As of 8 p.m. this evening, Estes Valley Fire Protection District Interim Fire Chief Stacey Sutherland has lifted the open burning ban within the EVFPD.
In a press statement released late this afternoon, Sutherland wrote, “The risk of wildfires never goes away completely, so residents and guests are still reminded to exercise care whenever burning outside, especially on windy days. A recreational fire’s fuel load must remain less than three feet in diameter and two feet in height, and it is always recommended to have a readily available source of extinguishment. Fires should be wet and cool to the touch before being left unattended. Fireworks remain illegal in the State of Colorado.”
For more information or to have a fire mitigation professional walk your property, click here to contact the EVFPD.
Childcare provider, preschool receive VEP, Frozen Dead Guy Days grants
Little Kids Montessori and Mountaintop Childcare are the recipients of grant funds related to Visit Estes Park’s sponsorship of the 2026 inaugural Estes Park Frozen Dead Guy Days festival.
The funds were provided through a rebate program offered through the Colorado Tourism Office, a division of the Colorado Governor’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade, to offset the costs of the first festival organized by Bosco Productions, Inc.
Following a competitive review process, Little Kids Montessori was selected to receive $8,394.17 for preschool and playroom supplies. Mountaintop Childcare is the recipient of $20,000 to be used for enhancing ADA accessibility at the facility.
In receiving the offset funds, Visit Estes Park and Bosco Productions agreed to redistribute them to local partners working in key areas supported by 6E funds, which provide funding for workforce housing and childcare in Estes Park.
Childcare tuition assistance program open for applications
Tuition subsidy assistance for childcare programs is now available to Estes Park’s low- and middle-income families. There is a rolling application period, so families can apply as needs arise or as spaces become available.
The childcare fund uses a simple and user-friendly process for families to apply for, renew, and monitor tuition assistance. The process allows a household to apply annually for the program year, calculating the fee that they pay the provider of their choice. The tuition assistance subsidy is directly transferred to the childcare provider.
The program is based on cost-modeling data and the needs expressed in the community. Assistance can be combined with other programs like Universal Preschool, with the ultimate goal of keeping a family’s childcare costs below 10 percent of its net monthly income.
To locate licensed childcare providers in the Estes Valley, visit larimerchildcare.org. To apply for childcare tuition assistance through the Estes Valley Childcare Fund, visit larimerchildcare.org/evcf or contact the fund’s administrator, Maribel Leon, at EVCF@ecclc.org.