current Wildfire Mitigation Projects

Our crew is constantly designing and implementing fuel breaks throughout the district.

When we arrive on site there is an extensive safety briefing that covers the unique needs and hazards associated with each fuel treatment.

We treat the land as if it was ours and and leave it healthier and more fire resistant than we found it.

Boulder Mountain Fire’s Mitigation Efforts in Boulder Heights:  Maintaining Forest Health and Community Safety

In our beautiful mountain community of Boulder Heights, a proactive initiative is underway to mitigate wildfire risk and bolster community safety. The project, spanning 24 acres, aims to establish a shaded fuel break according to Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) standards. This ambitious endeavor not only addresses immediate fire hazard reduction but also integrates ecological restoration and community engagement.

Project Scope and Implementation

The primary objective of the project is to thin existing forest stands. This action serves multiple purposes: enhancing forest health by restoring natural density, reducing the intensity of potential wildfires, and minimizing the impact of insect and disease outbreaks.  Coincidentally, we are having a severe Tussock Moth infestation that has temporarily halted progress due to health concerns.

Key to the project's success is the utilization of the forest's resources sustainably. Slash material generated from thinning operations will be chipped, while usable firewood will be harvested and available to local property owners and residents. This dual approach ensures that both the immediate fire hazard is reduced, and valuable resources are put to beneficial use within the community.

Strategic Importance and Community Benefits

1. Community Protection: Camp Paul Hummel, the “church camp”, in Boulder Heights represents a critical defense zone against wildfires encroaching on the neighborhood. By establishing this shaded fuel break, firefighters gain a crucial holding feature during fire events. Approximately 300 homes directly benefit from reduced fire risk, with an additional 300 homes indirectly protected by improved forest conditions.

2. Emergency Evacuation Route: Beyond fire protection, the project enhances the church camp’s vital evacuation route linking Sky Trail Road and Mine Lane. This strategic corridor ensures residents have reliable access to safety during wildfire emergencies, regardless of the fire's location.

3. Local Stakeholder Engagement: The project is situated on the grounds of the church camp, hosting various groups year-round. These include religious gatherings, outdoor recreational activities like hiking and archery, and full-time caretakers. By safeguarding this property through improved forest management, the project directly benefits these stakeholders, ensuring continued safe and enjoyable use of the camp facilities.

Collaborative Efforts

Successful implementation of the shaded fuel break relies on a collaborative effort among several key partners:

• Larimer Conservation Corps: Funded through grants, this group brings chainsaw and hauling expertise. Over four weeks, starting in mid-July 2024, the Corps will assist in vegetation cutting and movement, crucial for preparing the area for subsequent chipping.

• Boulder Mountain Fire District: Integral to the project, local firefighters contribute their expertise in cutting, hauling, and chipping operations. Their involvement ensures efficient execution and aligns with community firefighting objectives. Firefighting personnel and equipment allocated for this project are funded by federal, state, and county grants totaling $126K.

• Local Property Owners: Actively engaged in the project, property owners assist in gathering and removing usable firewood for personal use. This participation not only supports community resilience but also fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility among residents.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the shaded fuel break project in Boulder Heights exemplifies a proactive approach to wildfire mitigation and community resilience. By leveraging partnerships, sustainable forest management practices, and local engagement, the initiative not only protects lives and property but also enhances the ecological health of the surrounding landscape. As communities nationwide face escalating wildfire risks, Boulder Heights’ Boulder Mountain Fire Protection District sets a commendable example of effective collaboration and proactive risk management in the wildland-urban interface.

Before Treatment

Past Wildfire Mitigation Projects

Lee Hill Fuel Break

This project was recently completed on private property on Lee Hill Road. The before and after pictures show a significant reduction in both ladder fuels and canopy cover, turning a dense and unhealthy forest into an open park-like Ponderosa/Douglas-fir woodland. The project targeted diseased and damaged trees first, and then removed additional trees to create separation between surface and canopy fuels and canopy itself. The dog-hair stand (a vastly overgrown forest) before the project was the result of humans moving into the wildland-urban interface and actively suppressing fires that had once been frequent (about every 25 years) in the foothills of Boulder County. Without fire the forest became more susceptible to not only hazardous and unnatural wildfires that destroy homes and devastate ecosystems, but also other disease and infestation. With reduced competition the remaining trees stand a better chance of fighting off disease, bark beetles, mistletoe, and drought. Most importantly the forest ecosystem could survive future wildfires preserving forest health and the home owner’s property value.

The home owners who commissioned this project have had a broadminded approach to mitigation and have mitigated about five acres of their land. In the event of a fire, firefighters have a stronger chance of being able to save the house and also the land because of a lower possibility of extreme fire behavior. In addition to a reduction in fire risk the home owners have expressed other advantages such as attractive aesthetic quality and a friendly area for recreation such as hiking and cross country skiing. These five acres have been transformed from a dangerous, ailing and inaccessible forest to an open, safer and picturesque forest.

Below is a link to the Colorado State Forest Service’s Forest Atlas website. Here you can find a variety of useful information pertaining to wildfire throughout Colorado.