Wildfire Awareness Month

Join the Wildfire Mitigation Challenge for a chance to Win a New Chainsaw, Grass Trimmer, or Gift Cards totaling $1,550!

The most likely natural disaster that Boulder County residents face is a wildland fire. Taking action to be firewise will greatly increase the chance that your home and community will withstand a wildfire. Homeowners are encouraged to participate in the Wildfire Mitigation Challenge, and each household that signs up for the Challenge will be eligible to win prizes.

Wildfire Mitigation Challenge Prizes

1. Package Deal donated by Indian Peaks ACE Hardware: STIHL MS 250 18" Chainsaw ($299.95 value), 6-Layer Safety Chaps ($89.95) and a Forestry Safety Helmet ($64.99).
2. STIHL MS 290 16" Chainsaw ($389.95 value) donated by STIHL.
3. One $300 gift card to local hardware store.
4. One STIHL FS45 Trimmer ($159.95) donated by Indian Peaks ACE Hardware.
5. Five $100 gift cards to Indian Peaks ACE Hardware.
6. Seven $100 gift cards to a local hardware store.
7. Two $25 gift cards to McGuckin Hardware.

Special thanks to Indian Peaks ACE Hardware in Nederland and STIHL for their generous prize sponsorship.

Get Started

Registration for the Wildfire Mitigation Challenge is now closed. If you previously signed-up for the Challenge, please watch for an online survey to be emailed to you during the first week of November. Thanks!

1. Scroll down to the signup form to register for The Challenge. We just need your name, age, address, email, and the name of your fire protection district. *Wildfire Mitigation Challenge Eligibility Requirements: Open only to Boulder County residents, one entry per household, must be 18 or older to participate. Scroll down to view complete rules.*
2. Join the Forest Health Outreach email newsletter to receive educational emails during each week of The Challenge.
3. Download the Weekly Challenge Checklist (510 KB) to track work completed each week. The more mitigation tasks a household completes, the greater their chance of winning a prize.
4. Complete the Wildfire Mitigation Challenge survey (to be emailed in November).

The Community Challenge: "Fire District vs. Fire District"

Encourage your neighborhood to take the Wildfire Mitigation Challenge. The Fire Protection District with the highest percentage of households participating will win a free community chipping event, a $1,500 value.

• Participate in a community chipping day or other event.
• Talk to your neighbors about wildfire mitigation and emergency preparedness.
• Contact your local fire department about other ways to prepare for wildfire.

For more information, Contact Debra Rice, Wildfire Awareness Month Coordinator, at 303-441-3922 or drice@bouldercounty.org.

Wildfire Mitigation Challenge Rules

Eligibility

To be eligible for one of the Wildfire Mitigation Challenge prizes:

• You must complete the required questions on the online registration form at www.BoulderCountyWildfireAware.org.
• You must be 18 years of age or older.
• You must reside in Boulder County and the address on the registration form must be in the Boulder County Assessor’s Office database*.
• You must complete your registration by October 31st.

Only one entry per address will be accepted. Participants may not win more than one prize. Boulder County employees are not eligible. Winners of the STIHL package deal, chainsaw and trimmer agree to have a promotional photo of themselves taken after receiving the prize.

Chances to Win: Number of Entries in the Lottery

Prizes will be awarded by a lottery. For registering correctly, each participant receives one entry to the lottery.

Participants may receive additional entries to the lottery if they perform select wildfire mitigation tasks. The more tasks a participant performs, the more chances to win. To document the tasks performed, each participant must fill out a survey at the end of the Challenge. Participants must submit the survey by the deadline, November 11, 2012, to be considered for additional entries. The survey will include all the tasks listed on the Weekly Challenge Checklist.

• Participants will receive one entry for every task performed on the Checklist up to a maximum of nine additional entries.
• No participant will receive more than 10 entries into the lottery.

Drawing

Seventeen unique names will be drawn for prizes. The first name drawn will be number one, the second will be number two, etc. If a name is drawn twice, the second name will be discarded and another entry will be drawn. Prizes will be selected by participants based on their number. Number one will select any prize available. S/he does not have to select the chainsaw package. Number two will selected any remaining prizes, followed by number three, four, five, etc.

*Boulder County Assessor’s Office E-Mapping Program.

2012 Wildfire Awareness Month Events

Participate in a wildfire mitigation workshop, community chipping day or other event in October, 2012. Activities include:

October 1-12 - Nederland Neighborhood Slash Pick-up

Nederland residents are encouraged to take advantage of the end of the sort yard season to clear slash from their properties this fall. Public Works crews will haul away slash from centralized drop-off points in all of the town’s neighborhoods from mid-September through early October. Public Works will not be collecting slash from individual properties or driveways. If you do not take your slash to the centralized drop-off point for your neighborhood, it will not be collected.
Time: Various days
Information: Town Hall, 303-258-3266
Sponsors: Town of Nederland, Boulder County Community Chipping Reimbursement Program.

Saturday, October 6 – Nederland Saws and Slaws

Volunteers will be helping the residents of St. Anton’s to clear trees along the roads to allow emergency egress in case of fire as part of the final Nederland Saws and Slaws event of 2012. Community potluck to follow. Thanks to volunteer efforts and participation, this has been an enormously successful inaugural season for the Nederland Saws and Slaws Program. Registration is required.
Time: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Location: St. Antons Neighborhood
Registration and Information: Alan Brewer, Nederland PROSAB volunteer, nedforesthealth@gmail.com
Sponsors: Town of Nederland, Nederland Saws and Slaws, Nederland Parks Recreation and Open Space Advisory Board

Saturday, October 6 - Volunteer Forest Restoration Project at Heil Valley Ranch

As Boulder County staff has mechanically thinned forests, you may have seen the slash piles at many of our properties. These efforts improve wildlife habitat, decrease fire danger, and enhance meadow ecosystems. The actual work is still to be determined. Specific project information will be sent out closer to the project date upon registration. Minimum age is 10 with adult supervision. Registration is required.
Time: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Location: Heil Valley Ranch
Registration and Information: To register, please visit Boulder County Parks and Open Space Wildwork, or call Shane Milne at 303-678-6089.

Saturday, October 6 - Community Chipping Event in Lefthand Canyon area

Free Community Slash Chipping Event. **Please view the event flier (448 KB) for a complete list of what can and can’t be dropped at this event.**
Time: Accepting slash from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., or until we receive too much material. Slash cannot be dropped at the site in advance.
Location: Lefthand Fire Station #4, 7300 Lefthand Canyon Drive
Contacts: Ryan Ludlow, Boulder County Forest Health at 720-564-2641 or rludlow@bouldercounty.org, or Chris O’Brien, Lefthand Fire Protection at cobrien@lefthandfire.org.
Information: Boulder County Forest Health Events.
Sponsors: Lefthand Fire Protection District, Colorado State Forest Service, BLM and Boulder County Land Use.

Friday, October 12 – Colorado Forest Health Summit in Denver

Three interactive panel sessions that will include topics related to industry, wood products, restoration, community efforts, and local, state and federal policy. Featuring Gov. John Hickenlooper, U.S. Senator Mark Udall, U.S. Congressman Scott Tipton, and additional invited elected officials.
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Location: History Colorado Center, Mountain View Room, 1200 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203
Information: Lisa Dale at 303-866-3311 ext. 8657 or Lisa.Dale@state.co.us, 2012 Colorado Forest Health Summit

October 13 – Community Chipping Event in Fourmile Canyon area

Free Community Slash Chipping Event. **Please view the event flier (7788 KB)for a complete list of what can and can’t be dropped at this event.**
Time: Accepting slash from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., or until we receive too much material. Slash cannot be dropped at the site in advance.
Location: Logan Mill Fire Station, 9 Logan Mill Road
Contacts: Ryan Ludlow, Boulder County Forest Health at 720-564-2641 or rludlow@bouldercounty.org, or Zach Littlefield, Crew Boss, Fourmile Fire Protection, 303-449-3333, 4milefiremit@gmail.com
Information: Boulder County Forest Health Events.
Sponsors: Fourmile Fire Protection District, Colorado State Forest Service, BLM and Boulder County Land Use.

Saturday, October 13 - Natural History Hike - Fire on the Mountain: After the Fourmile Canyon Fire

Join Boulder County volunteer naturalists for a moderate one-mile hike to learn about the natural role of fire in ponderosa pine ecosystems, and about forest management practices that lessen the effects and scale of wildfires. You will see evidence of the Fourmile Canyon fire, learn about rehabilitation efforts that were employed, and observe how this ecosystem has recovered so far. We will also keep an eye out for any wildlife or signs of wildlife. Registration is required.
Time: 10 a.m.-noon
Location: Bald Mountain Scenic Area
Registration and Information: Larry Colbenson, 303-678-6214, lcolbenson@bouldercounty.org, Natural History Hike.

Saturday, October 13 – Volunteer Forest Restoration Project at Hall Ranch

As Boulder County staff has mechanically thinned forests, you may have seen the slash piles at many of our properties. These efforts improve wildlife habitat, decrease fire danger, and enhance meadow ecosystems. The actual work is still to be determined. Specific project information will be sent out closer to the project date upon registration. Minimum age is 10 with adult supervision. Registration is required.
Time: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Location: Hall Valley Ranch
Registration and Information: To register, please visit Boulder County Parks and Open Space Wildwork, or call Shane Milne at 303-678-6089.

Saturday, October 13 – Wildfire Mitigation and Slash Pile Burning Workshop

The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office Fire Management Program is hosting a wildfire mitigation and slash pile burning workshop. This workshop will teach interested landowners and community members how to put ideas into action, focusing on how to safely build and burn slash piles. Participants will be actively involved in all steps of the process, including tree selection, limbing and bucking, pile construction, pile ignition, monitoring and final mop-up. Fire Management Staff will go step by step through the Open Burn permitting system implemented this year, and will be available to answer questions. No RSVP required. Meet at the elementary school parking lot. Bring a sack lunch, work gloves and dress for the weather.
Time: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Location: Nederland Elementary School, 1 Sundown Trail, Nederland
Information: Ashley Garrison, 720-564-2673, or agarrison@bouldercounty.org
Sponsors: Boulder Valley School District, Nederland Elementary School, Nederland Fire Protection District, Town of Nederland, Boulder County Sheriff’s Office and Boulder County Land Use.

Sunday, October 14 - “The Home Ignition Zone” Wildfire Mitigation Workshop

At this free outdoor workshop, learn how to identify mitigation actions you can take to reduce the ignitability of your home. The workshop will be held at a home in the foothills of Boulder County. We will tour the outside of the home and critically evaluate the homes strengths and weakness in relation to wildland fire. Registration is required.
Time: 9 a.m.–noon
Location: Register for location details.
Registration and Information: Deb Rice, 303-441-3922, drice@bouldercounty.org
Boulder County Forest Health Events.
Sponsors: Boulder County Land Use and Colorado State Forest Service.

Tuesday, October 16 – How to Properly Insure Your Mountain Home

Foothills United Way and Boulder County are holding a free educational workshop to help residents make sure they are properly insured and to learn how to be prepared for any natural disaster. Often, the cost to rebuild, especially in the mountains, exceeds the amount of coverage policyholders carry for their homes and other property. Adding to this problem is the homeowner’s lack of awareness that the policies they carry are inadequate. The workshop will cover several topics, including:

• Lessons learned from Fourmile Canyon Fire Survivors.
• Tips from United Policyholders’‘Roadmap to Preparedness’ Program.
• How to ensure your insurance policy accurately reflects the real cost of rebuilding in the mountains.
• Practical ways your family can be prepared in the case of a natural disaster.
• To learn more now about insuring your home adequately, view Properly Insure Your Home Against Wildfire.

Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Lyons Town Hall, 432 5th Avenue
Information: Garry Sanfaçon, Boulder County Fourmile Fire Recovery Manager, gsanfacon@bouldercounty.org, 720-564-2642.
Sponsors: Foothills United Way, Boulder County

Friday, October 19 - Climate Change and Forest Wildfire in the Mountain West: Understanding our Changing Risks

Six Front Range counties have recognized October as Wildfire Awareness Month. Boulder, Clear Creek, Douglas, El Paso, Jefferson and Larimer counties each are honoring the month in different ways. This symposium will bring together individuals from across the Front Range to discuss key regional issues concerning climate change and forest wildfire:

• Keynote Presentation - Climate Change and Forest Wildfire in the Mountain West: Understanding our Changing Risks by Dr. Anthony L. Westerling, with a question and answer session.
• Discussion Groups - Following the presentation, we will break into small groups to discuss policy implications, future research needs, watershed protection strategies, Fire Adapted Communities, and other practical implications of this research.
• Networking Session - Learn what is happening in other counties; meet your colleagues and fellow residents.
• Hosts and Moderators - Boulder County Commissioner Cindy Domenico, Summit County Commissioner Dan Gibbs.

Time: 1:30-4 p.m.
Location: Jefferson County Courts and Administration Building, 100 Jefferson County Pkwy., Golden, CO 80419 (Lookout Mountain Room, Lower Level)
Information: Jim Webster, Community Wildfire Protection Planner, jbwebster@bouldercounty.org

Sunday, October 21 - Tour of Past, Present and Future Fuel Reduction Projects: U.S. Forest Service and Boulder County Collaboration

An outdoor tour of past, current and planned fuel reduction projects along Magnolia Road. Participants will travel in group vans and visit five sites. Forest Service and County staff will explain the history, science, and rationale associated with these treatments. Participation is limited, sign up early to reserve your space.
Time: 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Starting Location: Register for location information
Registration and Information: Elsha Kirby, Public Affairs Community Liaison, ekirby@fs.fed.us, Forest Tour Registration
Sponsors: U.S. Forest Service and Boulder County.

Tuesday, October 23 - Partnering to Reduce Our Wildfire Risks - Firewise Communities, Ready! Set! Go! and Fire Adapted Communities Initiative

The Firewise Communities program provides a number of resources and action steps homeowners can utilize to reduce their community’s risk of wildfire damage. The Ready Set Go! Program tenets help residents be Ready with preparedness understanding, be Set with situational awareness when fire threatens, and to Go, acting early when a fire starts.
Time: 6:30-8 p.m.
Location: Boulder Rural Fire Protection District, Central Fire Station, 6230 Lookout Road, Boulder, 80301.
Information: Keith Worley, Firewise Advisor, 303-681-2492 or FirewiseKeith@nfpa.org.
Sponsors: Firewise Communities/USA Recognition Program, Boulder County Land Use

Wednesday, October 24 - Crestview Estates Neighborhood Curbside Chipping

Free curbside chipping event for members of CERG (Crestview Estates Residents Group). Open to Crestview Estates residents only.
Location: Crestview Estates Neighborhood
Contacts: Rich Blanchette, 303-938-9068, reb@green-mtn.com
Sponsors: Crestview Estates Residents Group, Lefthand Fire Protection District and Boulder County Community Chipping Reimbursement Program.

Sunday, October 28 – Community Chipping Event in Coal Creek Canyon

Community Slash Chipping Day. Note: $5 donation per load requested.
Time: Accepting slash 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., or until we receive too much material. Slash cannot be dropped at the site in advance.
Location: Camp Eden at 11583 Camp Eden Rd., Golden, CO.
Contacts: Jody Dickson, Community Organizer in Coal Creek Canyon, 303-642-3568, or Ryan Ludlow, Boulder County Forest Health at 720-564-2641 or rludlow@bouldercounty.org
Sponsors: Coal Creek Saws and Slaws, The Environmental Group, Colorado State Forest Service, Boulder County, BLM.

Wildfire Mitigation Information

• Boulder County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP)
• Boulder County Forestry and Fire Management
• Boulder County Wildfire History
• Forest Health Information
• Forest Health Outreach Schedule of Events
• Mountain Addressing System
• Wildfire Mitigation Publications
• Wildfire Mitigation Partners

 

For the most up-to-date information about Wildfire Awareness Month events and activities, or for questions about the Wildfire Mitigation Challenge, contact Ryan Ludlow, Boulder County Forest Health Initiative, at 720-564-2641 or rludlow@bouldercounty.org.