Wildfire Mitigation

Meet the Boulder County Wildfire Mitigation Coordinator

In 1994, at the request of the Boulder County Wildfire Mitigation Group, the Board of County Commissioners created a full-time position for a Boulder County Wildfire Mitigation Coordinator. This position was created to help the county address concerns arising from the increasing threat of wildland fires to the wildland/urban interface areas of the County.

Meet Eric Philips

Located under the general supervision of the Boulder County Land Use Department, the position is designed to function as an interagency liaison between Boulder County and various local, state and nation-wide entities with local interests in wildfire mitigation.

Intergovernmental

• Serves as the chairperson of the Boulder County Wildfire Mitigation Group.
• Acts as a liaison between Boulder County government and the individual Fire Protection Districts located in the county through the Boulder County Fire Fighters Association.
• Represents Boulder County government at various local, state and national wildfire meetings and work groups (example: National Fire Plan coordination meetings).
• Attends and/or makes presentations at various wildfire workshops, conferences, and symposiums, such as the Colorado Mitigation and Wildfire Conference.
• Stays abreast of wildfire mitigation activities in all County Fire Protection Districts and Departments.

Education

• Works with the Colorado State Forest Service for pubic outreach and education.
• Administers fire prevention programs for homeowners associations.
• Facilitates public meetings where wildfire mitigation issues are presented.

Land Use Planning

• Assists with land use reviews for sites in fire-prone areas of Boulder County.
• Addresses wildfire related issues for developers, fire jurisdictions, and County employees.
• Assists with WHIMS project.

Fire Management

• Implements, monitors and evaluates fire management activities under the direction of the Boulder County Comprehensive Plan.
• Assists local fire agencies, government agencies and land management groups planning and conducting prescribed burns.
• During wildfires, functions within the command staff, acting as a liaison or information officer; provides oversight on initial fire response and mode-3 fire (requiring multiple agencies) management for responding agencies, including appropriate strategies and tactics in the urban interface.

Codes/Standards

• Drafts technical guides and standards on fire management, fuels management, prescribed fire and related topics for the County.
• Interprets local, regional, and national fire management direction, short and long term program goals, code compliance, and other standards for the County.
• Facilitates acceptance and adoption of fire technical codes, methods, and techniques for various agencies and jurisdictions in the County.

Training

• Serves as an instructor for National Wildfire Coordinating Group fire training courses.
• Serves as an instructor for International Fire Code Institute fire training courses.
• Provides program leadership and direction regarding appropriate application and implementation of fire, fuels and air quality activities.

Memberships

• Member of the Wildfire Mitigation Coordinators Group.
• Member of the Northern Colorado Wildfire Cooperators Association.