Boulder, Colo., Offers Homeowners $1K for Wildfire Resilience

(TNS) — Boulder officials are launching a new program to help property owners in specific areas of western Boulder to create more wildfire-resilient homes.

The Wildfire Resilience Assistance Program offers up to $1,000 in cost-sharing help to eligible homeowners in high-risk areas, according to a press release.

“Wildfire resilience in the city of Boulder is a shared responsibility, and any work done by community members in these high-risk areas contributes to the resilience and the safety of the whole community,” Boulder Fire-Rescue Chief Michael Calderazzo said in the release. “Fire can move very quickly. The better prepared we are in high-risk areas of the city, the more ready the entire city will be for future wildfires.”

Homeowners can apply for money through Nov. 30, with a new round of funding available in 2025, according to the release.

The program is funded by the Climate Tax, which voters created in 2022 when they approved ballot measure 2A. Between 2023 and 2040, this approved funding is allocated to increase wildfire resilience across the city, according to the release. Boulder plans to devote up to $380,000 this calendar year specifically toward the program.

Homeowners can determine if their properties are within the program boundary. A map is at bldr.fyi/WRAPeligible. They also can register for a home assessment to identify whether there is program-eligible work on the property, according to the release.

“We are excited about this opportunity to help our community become more wildfire ready,” Dan Burke, Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks director, said in the release. “It is one of several important citywide efforts that we have been working towards since the Climate Tax passed, to ensure that Boulder is as resilient and prepared as possible.”

Other city wildfire programs include the Open Space and Mountain Parks Perimeter Mowing Program, the Wildfire Detailed Home Assessments done for residents by Boulder Fire-Rescue’s Community Risk Reduction team and upgraded emergency messaging systems that include a recent text alert notification system, among others. With the text alert notifications, residents sign up for alerts during large-scale emergencies by texting Bocoinfo to 888777.

In a related note, Boulder officials are setting aside funds to improve the wildfire resilience of structures and landscape areas in the Ponderosa manufactured home community.

For more information about the program, eligibility and the application process, visit bouldercolorado.gov/WRAP.

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