Boulder is a beautiful place to live, work and play. The same natural lands that make it special also put the community at significant risk for wildfires. Join the City of Boulder in our shared community responsibility to reduce wildfire risk.

Making the community more wildfire resilient is a shared responsibility and takes time, preparing city resources for a high-risk day is something that city departments plan and practice for.

In December and March the City of Boulder experienced implemented Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) by Xcel Energy as a community risk reduction strategy against wildfires. While these planned shut-offs are a newer experience for our community, the idea of losing power because of severe wind conditions is not.

The step to create more intensive risk reduction strategies against wildfire is something we have seen happen across the state, with increasing temperatures and more red flag days. The city, like our regional partners, also works aggressively to plan and prepare for high fire risk days: from preventative vegetation management, the creation of hardened and resilient communities, to increased staffing on red flag days – wildfire resilience remains a priority.

On high-risk weather days, Boulder Fire-Rescue and city Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) bring in additional staff and fire apparatus to support wildland firefighting. City leadership also monitors the need for closures on the Open Space system, recognizing the potential for accidental ignition on the trails. City utilities also factor in wildfire risks, including power redundancy to maintain operations when power is lost. 

During high wind events when a PSPS is implemented by power providers the Boulder Office of Disaster Management Emergency Operations Center activates.  This center is staffed by subject matter experts from across city and county departments who collaborate to provide support, coordination, and consequence management during incidents. 

The city’s wildfire resilience isn’t only based on the day-of high fire danger; work is constantly ongoing to mitigate wildfire risk. The city conducts targeted fuels management projects across departments. Forestry crews with OSMP conduct strategic mitigation work year-round based on wildfire risk, fuel height, and ecological considerations. While this work can sometimes appear limited when viewed from a single location, it is part of a broader, long-term approach to reducing wildfire risk while protecting natural resources. This work like grazing, mowing, limbing and cutting trees is also complemented by the work that other city departments do for wildfire resilience such as prescribed burning and undergrounding electric lines.

You can learn more about the specific projects that the city is doing for wildfire resilience at Bouldercolorado.gov/WildfireReady. For local emergency preparedness resources, visit boulderodm.gov and be sure to sign up for emergency alerts for a significant life-threatening event. We can all prepare for the next Red Flag day together.

Tram Hill Fuel Reduction Project

The Tram Hill Fuel Reduction project’s goal is to reduce vegetation to make critical infrastructure more resilient to wildfire. This project is funded through the Colorado Department of Natural Resources’ Colorado Strategic Wildfire Action Program (COSWAP), which awarded to the City of Boulder $900,000 grant to tackle wildfire resilience on Tram Hill by:

- Reducing vegetation near critical drinking water, hydroelectric, and electrical infrastructure

- Increasing access to the area for first responders by thinning vegetation

- Reducing wildfire spread and severity by lessening available fuels

The project is currently in Phase 1 which is the collaboration with Xcel Energy to cut hazardous trees around powerlines (no funds from the grant are going to Xcel for this work). The next phase will include city contractors continuing to cut trees in the area and phase 3, the final phase, will be the planned burning of the downed trees and limbs through Boulder Fire-Rescue.

A community meeting was held on Wednesday, February 24th to provide information and answer questions from interested community members. The questions and responses received at this meeting were incorporated into the FAQ, posted on the Tram Hill project website. Want to learn more about the project? Visit https://bouldercolorado.gov/projects/tram-hill-fuel-reduction-project.

 The cows are coming back – Wildfire Resilience Grazing Project

Everyone's favorite wildfire resilience buddies are coming back to graze - for wildfire resilience of course. The Wildfire Resilience Cow Grazing program will happen again in 2026, bringing cattle from our partner ranches to eat fuels and vegetation, lessening the spread and severity of potential wildfires. They should be back in town in May and June along the western part of the city. We will publish more information about the project as we get closer. Interested in learning about another fuel mitigation project on Open Space, visit our website to learn about the city's Perimeter Mowing Program

Two BOCO mentions, two different systems and types of information – but what should you expect from each? This article will debunk confusion between the two and help ensure you understand how to get the information you need the most during emergencies and disasters.

Emergency Alerts - BOCO Alert

The purpose of BOCO Alert is to provide you with life-saving alert information during emergencies and disasters. This opt-in alert system is a critical information source that provides evacuation (and other directive) advisories, warnings, or orders via text message, phone call, and e-mail to provide directions regarding actions you should take to keep yourself safe. If you register to receive the text message or e-mail options you’ll be linked to a map with the impact area. Register at BOCOAlert.org, and add up to 5 addresses to your account to ensure you receive alerts for the places that are most important to you (consider adding not just your home, but work place, school, parks or trailheads, or any locations you visit often).

Who determines when BOCO Alerts are sent out?

First responders are the decision makers when it comes to emergency alerting – upon arriving on-scene they assess the situation and determine what area needs to be alerted, to what severity level (advisory, warning, or order), and communicate that information to dispatch to have alerts sent out to the community. BOCO Alerts are not sent out for all incidents, and are only sent at the request of first responders when they’ve determined there’s a broader need for community members to take action.

Emergency Messaging - BOCO Info

The purpose of BOCO Info is to provide you with information related to incident impacts and resources - not immediate life-saving information. BOCO Info provides users with supplemental information via text message or app notification – this includes content like wildfire acreage and containment, shelter locations, road closures, safety tips, recovery information, etc. To receive BOCO Info messages, text BOCOInfo to 888777, or download the ReachWell app and search for and add “BOCO Info”

The information sent through BOCO Info can also be found at the top of the homepage at BoulderODM.gov.

In Summary

BOCO Alerts may save your life; BOCO Info is supplemental messaging after immediate life-safety concerns have subsided.

BOCO Alerts provide life-saving information during incidents, and are sent at the request of first responders – all community members are encouraged to sign-up for BOCO Alert at BOCOAlert.org.

BOCO Info provides information on incident impacts and resources – to receive these messages text BOCOInfo to 888777, or download the ReachWell app and search for and add “BOCO Info”.

As a reminder, you are always your first form of alert – if you see, hear, smell, or sense that you’re in danger take action to keep yourself safe.

Registration is now open for the City of Boulder’s Climate-Resilient Landscape Contractor Training. This is a free, full-day workshop that gives you practical skills you can use right away in your work. The training provides practical guidance on plant selection, soil health, efficient irrigation and design strategies suited to Boulder’s changing climate. Landscape professionals are encouraged to participate to build new skills, support community resilience and help create more sustainable outdoor spaces across Boulder.

TRAINING DETAILS
Date: April 25
Time: 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Cost: Free, space is limited, registration required
Location: The Family Learning Center - 3164 34th St., Boulder, CO 80301
Food: Meals and refreshments provided

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La inscripción ya está abierta para la capacitación de paisajismo resiliente al clima de la Ciudad de Boulder. Es un taller gratuito de un día completo que te da habilidades prácticas que puedes aplicar de inmediato en tu trabajo.

La capacitación ofrece orientación útil sobre selección de plantas, salud del suelo, riego eficiente y estrategias de diseño adaptadas al clima cambiante de Boulder. Invitamos a profesionales del paisajismo y jardinería a participar para fortalecer sus habilidades, apoyar la resiliencia de la comunidad y ayudar a crear espacios exteriores más sostenibles en toda la ciudad.

Fecha: 25 de abril

Horario: 8 a.m. a 5:30 p.m.

Costo: Gratis, espacio limitado, requiere registración
Lugar: The Family Learning Center - 3164 34th St., Boulder, CO 80301
Alimentación: Se ofrecerán comidas y refrigerios

Bluebell Fire Cause Remains Undetermined After March Fire

Come check in with your City of Boulder Wildfire Team at this year's What's Up Boulder event on September 7. 

Boulder to Begin Fuel Reduction Work West of the City to Protect Critical Infrastructure

The grant-funded project will conduct tree removal to protect critical drinking water, hydroelectric and electrical infrastructure, increase first responder access in the event of a wildfire, and help reduce wildfire spread and severity.

City of Boulder and Boulder County Release Draft Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan

This and other public safety efforts support broader community work to reduce wildfire risk and enhance community safety while also preventing behaviors that can damage sensitive natural areas.

Watch these videos and then get outside!

You are likely familiar with the concept of ‘home hardening’ and creating ‘defensible space’ by now – taking actions on your home and property to improve wildfire resilience – but often it is hard to see what that actually looks like in practice. Boulder Fire-Rescue’s Community Risk Reduction team has put together a few videos with the assistance of Colorado State Forest Service. These are excellent walk-throughs of performing home hardening - looking at decks, fences, vents, and a 5 foot non-combustible zone around your home.

The Wildfire Resilience Assistance Program will be making a return for 2026. This is a reimbursement program for residents of the City of Boulder to make wildfire resilient changes to their home and property. Prior to applying, residents must have received a detailed home assessment (DHA) from Boulder Fire-Rescue’s Community Risk Reduction Team. Since the programs start in 2024, over $400,000 has been provided to residents of Boulder through more than 272 applications.

The program will undergo a few changes in 2026 but will be announced in April. You can sign up on bouldercolorado.gov/WildfireReady to receive an email when WRAP opens back up. Until then, learn more about DHAs at bldr.fyi/DHAbyBFR.

Making YOUR home more resilient benefits the WHOLE community!