Summit County Forest Health and Wildfire Mitigation

Summit County CSU Extension partners with many local organizations throughout the community to support forest health and wildfire mitigation education, in accordance with the Summit County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (pdf). CSU Extension also administers the Summit County Wildfire Council, which guides the implementation of the Community Wildfire Protection Plan.

For educational presentations on forest health and wildfire preparedness, contact Dan Schroder at (970) 668-4140 or dan.schroder@colostate.edu.

Summit County Fire Restrictions

The Office of Emergency Management provides information on current fire restrictions in Summit County.

Wildfire Mitigation Efforts StoryMap

We've put together an interactive presentation in "Story Map" format to present information on our mitigation efforts. You can scroll the presentation above or Click here to view it in full in a new browser window.

Defensible Space

Defensible space is an area around a home or other structure where vegetation has been cleared or reduced to slow the spread of wildfire. Defensible space also creates a safe zone for firefighters to work, and it reduces the chance that a structure fire will move to the surrounding forest or other homes. Learn more about defensible space.

Tree Spacing Graphic for defensible space

Summit County Wildfire Council

The Summit County Wildfire Council works to mitigate wildfire risk in Summit County, through implementation of the Summit County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (pdf). The council includes representatives from the U.S. Forest Service, Colorado State Forest Service, local fire protection districts, towns, river basins, and Summit County government. Learn more about the Summit County Wildfire Council.

Community Wildfire Protection Grants

The Summit County Wildfire Council provides matching grants to eligible homeowner groups to conduct hazardous fuels reduction and other projects to protect their properties from wildfire. These funds are available through a Summit County mill levy approved by voters in 2008. Learn more about Summit County’s community wildfire mitigation grants.  

Summit County Forestry Contractors (pdf)

Chipping Program

Summit County government and Summit County Wildfire Council are helping residents and property owners create defensible space by providing free chipping and disposal of branches, logs and small trees.  If you clear woody vegetation from around your home and stack it in a slash pile, we'll chip it and haul it away for free. Learn more about the Summit County Chipping Program.  

Chipping Truck and Crew

Related Links and Resources

   

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Colorado State University Extension is an equal opportunity provider. | Colorado State University Extension es un proveedor que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades.

Colorado State University does not discriminate on the basis of disability and is committed to providing reasonable accommodations. | Colorado State University no discrimina por motivos de discapacidad y se compromete a proporcionar adaptaciones razonables.

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