Boulder County is doubling down on its commitment to reduce wildfire risk with the kickoff of its free Community Chipping Program for the 2025 season. As part of the continuous efforts to enhance environmental safety, Wildfire Partners provides county residents with the means to manage flammable vegetation on their properties. This not only promotes a cleaner landscape but also strengthens the area's resilience against the threat of wildfires.
According to Boulder County, the program has seen escalating participation, having supported nearly 500 homes via 53 applications in 2023. The following year saw a swell in numbers with 94 applications and over 1,100 homes aided. The chipping service, available to all residents of the county at no cost, ensures the proper disposal of slash branches and brush to maintain defensible space around homes and curtail fire spread. The county has prepared itself, expecting over 1,600 homes to participate this year, and has bolstered its chipping contractors and internal systems to keep pace with the demand.
Zack Bertges, the Wildfire Partners Chipping Coordinator, conveyed the program's importance and its impact. "Wildfire Partners saw tremendous growth with last year’s chipping program. Residents had been waiting for a new Chipping Program, and the quick growth demonstrates just how proactive our communities are becoming," Boulder County reported. "For 2025, we’ve prepared for and are expecting over 1,600 homes to participate. Our chipping contractors and internal systems are prepared to support this fast-growing program. It’s a very exciting time for residents to jump in and participate."
In partnership with local fire districts and aplomb chipping contractors, the county's program emphasizes neighborhood collaboration. It endorses the organization of neighborhood chipping events, where a troupe of five or more homeowners work in unison to conduct the chipping service. The chips are then hauled to a partnering donation site by county-vetted contractors. Funding for this initiative stems from the Wildfire Mitigation Sales Tax, greenlit by county voters in 2022 to sponsor efforts like forest management and communal programs aimed at improving wildfire resilience.
