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.

Once a quarter, we will be bringing you more information about the city's multi-departmental and cross-disciplinary approach to wildfire risk reduction and preparation. This quarter we are covering wildfire evacuation preparedness, changed to the WUI Code, the pilot grazing program, and more!

Boulder first adopted the International Wildland Urban Interface Code (IWUIC) in 2014 and since then has updated the code every six years. City Council recently adopted the 2024 IWUIC with local amendments. The city's Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) code requirements went into effect for properties in the WUI Area on Aug. 1, 2025. If your property is in the WUI area, there are additional building code requirements that help to mitigate risk of wildfire and harden and protect your building and site. The requirements apply when a building permit is issued and are limited to the proposed scope of work. Learn more about the updated WUI code on the city's website.

I'm in the WUI area - what does that mean?

If your property is in the WUI area (all colored spots on the map), there are additional building code requirements that help to mitigate risk of wildfire and harden and protect your building and site.

There are three classes of ignition-resistant construction required in the WUI area, depending on fire hazard severity. The 2024 IWUIC and local amendments lay out certain standards for the building elements whenever a building or structure is constructed, modified or moved. Based on your color-coded Ignition Risk Area, there are certain requirements to follow. 

When do these requirements apply?

The requirements apply when a building permit is issued and are limited to the proposed scope of work. For example, if a permit is pulled to replace a deck, only the specific deck requirements are required to be met. Some of the site requirements apply generally to ensure sites are maintained to reduce the risk of wildfire, but fuel modification requirements only apply to new construction.

Knowing what to do during a wildfire evacuation can save your life. Here are the actions you should take to prepare:

1. Sign-up for BOCO Alerts. This critical step will allow you to receive life-saving emergency alerts through phone call, text, and e-mail. Sign-up and add your home, work, school, or other important addresses that you want to receive alerts for at www.bocoalert.org.
          For emergency alerts in languages other than English, download the ReachWell app, then search for and add “BOCO Alert”

2. Plan ahead with your support system for multiple transportation options. Plan for a primary mode of transportation and at least one backup evacuation option - whether it be a personal vehicle, a ride with a neighbor or friend that you plan ahead of time, bike, etc.).

3. Know your routes. Familiarize yourself with your neighborhood, and plan for which routes you could take during an evacuation.
           The routes you would take don’t all have to be traditional – in a situation where your life is at risk it’s okay to break rules (drive on a bike path, open space trail, etc. - as long as you are confident that the route leads to safety, and your driving skills and vehicles can handle it).

4. Create a grab list. Create a list of essential or irreplaceable items you’d want to take with you during an evacuation, and their location in your home. Your list should include things like critical medications, medical devices, and meaningful items (photos, mementos, etc.) that you could not replace. Learn more and use the grab list template at https://boulderodm.gov/preparedness/planning/grab-list/

5. Make evacuation plans for kids, pets, and anyone you caretake for. Think ahead and plan with your support system to make sure that those you caretake for have a way to evacuate.

Take action today: make your grab list and practice.
Set a timer and pretend you’ve just received an evacuation alert. Gather your grab list items, load them into your vehicle (or backpack/trailer if biking), and include everyone in your household—people and pets. Stop the timer once everything and everyone is ready to go.

This drill helps you understand how long evacuation will actually take. Afterward, ask yourself: Did it take too long? Do you need to trim your list, move items to easier-to-reach spots, or make sure everyone knows the plan? Adjust based on what you learn.

Having an evacuation plan that takes the speed at which you can pack up and leave, and the route options you have into an account is an important step in making sure you and loved ones are disaster ready. To learn more about other action steps you take to prepare for wildfire, or any disaster, visit www.boulderodm.gov/preparedness.

To receive text updates to your phone during a major disaster or emergency (flood, public health crisis, large wildfire) text BOCOInfo to 888-777. These are informational updates only and not emergency notifications. You only need to do this one time to be signed up for this information in any future emergency.

What's Up Boulder Event

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

Wildfire Resilience Assistance Program Reopens

Financial help available for homeowners to complete wildfire protection projects.

Increased Patrols on Flagstaff This Summer

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.

Perimeter Mowing Program to Help Reduce Wildfire Risk

Upcoming wildfire risk reduction work is part of the city’s broader wildfire preparedness efforts

The 5 Foot Practice

Creating a noncombustible zone around your home.

The most important landscaping choice for wildfire resilience is to create and maintain a vegetation-free area 5-foot around your home. Simple choices like replacing mulch and clearing the first 5 feet around your home dramatically reduce the risk of your home catching on fire.

Embers are the #1 cause of homes igniting during wildfire. Combustible structures, plants, mulch, wood chips, leaf litter, and “life debris” can easily ignite and transfer fire to the siding or other vulnerable materials on your home.

Maintaining non-combustible hardscaping surrounding your home or business in the first 5 feet is one of the most important steps a homeowner can take to create a protective barrier. There are indications that this is becoming an increasingly important consideration in both the cost and accessibility of fire insurance.

Removing vegetation around the first 5 feet of our home is required for all development and redevelopment projects within the Wildland Urban Interface Ignition Risk Areas according to the new code. It is also strongly recommended for all other structures in Boulder.

This quarter's wildfire resilience challenge is to understand the critical importance of the first 5 feet out from you home and work towards making more wildfire resilient changes. 

Take the challenge one step further and sign your property up for a detailed home assessment (DHA). The detailed home assessment (DHA) is a free personal assessment of your home that is conducted by Boulder Fire-Rescue. Each DHA is done by a specialist and has the purpose of assisting homeowners in understanding their wildfire resilience risk at their residence. This free program is made up of a 2 hour walk through of your home and property as well as a specific report provided on risk reduction tactics you can take on your home.

Making YOUR home more resilient benefits the WHOLE community!