City of Boulder Announces Wildfire Resilience Assistance Program

The City of Boulder is launching a new Wildfire Resilience Assistance Program to help property owners in specific areas of western edge of the city create more wildfire resilient homes and properties. The program provides cost-sharing assistance to eligible homeowners in these critical geographic areas.

"Wildfire resilience in the City of Boulder is a shared responsibility, and any work done by community members in these high-risk areas contributes to the resilience and safety of the whole community," said Boulder Fire-Rescue Chief Michael Calderazzo. "Fire can move very quickly. The better prepared we are in high-risk areas of the city, the more ready the entire city will be for future wildfires."

The Wildfire Resilience Assistance Program is funded by the "Climate Tax," which city voters created in the fall of 2022 when they approved ballot Measure 2A. Between 2023 and 2040, this approved funding is allocated to increase wildfire resilience citywide. As part of a broad, citywide effort to increase wildfire resilience and preparedness, the city plans to devote up to $380,000 this calendar year specifically towards the Wildfire Resilience Assistance Program.

Property owners within the eligible program boundary may be able to receive cost-sharing assistance from the city of up to $1,000 for qualified property improvement work, with income qualifying-property owners eligible for further customizable funding.

The first step in the application process is to determine if a property lies within the program boundary, which can be found at bldr.fyi/WRAPeligible. Property owners can then register for a Detailed Home Assessment to identify whether there is program-eligible work on the property. Please note, Detailed Home Assessments are available to all residential properties within city limits, not just those in areas that may be eligible for assistance funds.

"We are excited about this opportunity to help our community become more wildfire ready," said Dan Burke, Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) director. "It is one of several important citywide efforts that we have been working towards since the Climate Tax passed, to ensure that Boulder is as resilient and prepared as possible."

Other city programs to advance wildfire resilience and preparedness include the OSMP Perimeter Mowing Program, Wildfire Detailed Home Assessmentsconducted for residents by Boulder Fire-Rescue's Community Risk Reduction team, and increased emergency messaging systems that include the recent text alert notification system, where community members can receive text alerts during large scale emergencies by texting Bocoinfo to 888777. (Data and messaging rates apply.) In addition, the city has allocated funds to improve the wildfire resiliency of structures and landscape areas in the Ponderosa manufactured home community.

Applications for the Wildfire Resilience Assistance Program for 2024 will be accepted through Nov. 30, 2024, with a new round of funding available in 2025. More information about the program, eligibility, and the application process can be found on the website at bouldercolorado.gov/WRAP.