Boulder County has opened its application window for the next Strategic Fuels Mitigation Grants (SFMG), aimed at supporting local wildfire mitigation efforts. Eligible applicants include local municipalities, fire protection districts, and community organizations, which can now apply for grants to fund projects that diminish wildfire risk and promote collaborative resilience-building among communities and landowners. According to Boulder County, the application period for this cycle will run from Sept. 18 to Oct. 30.
Since its inception in 2023, the SFMG program, funded by Boulder County’s wildfire mitigation sales and use tax, has invested over $5.7 million in mitigating wildfire dangers. With the tax passed by Boulder County voters in 2022, the program has supported an array of initiatives, which include grassland mowing and grazing, forest thinning, and the creation of Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs). As obtained by Boulder County, Meg Halford, who serves as the Wildfire Partners Forest and Grasslands Coordinator, emphasized that, "These grants are making a tangible difference throughout the county," and assist in reducing "wildfire risk on a larger scale while bringing communities and partners together to build resilience."
The SFMG is part of the larger Wildfire Partners program, which provides technical and financial aid to county residents. This guidance comes in the form of customized wildfire mitigation assessments, grant funding opportunities, educational programming, community events, and access to a free chipping program. With wildfire incidents on the rise, the programs aim to enhance both individual and communal preparedness against the threat of wildfires.
