Stage 2 Fire Restrictions Enacted for Western Boulder County; Stage 1 Fire Restrictions Enacted for Eastern Boulder County.

Emergency Services Grant Program
Collage of photos showing emergency rescue work in Boulder County

Emergency Services Grant Program

The Fall Fire District Grant Round Will Open on Sept. 1

Check back for grant application details and instructions on or after Sept. 1. Sign up to receive an email or text message when the grant round opens.

The Emergency Services Grant Program is funded by the countywide Emergency Services Sales and Use Tax. The tax pays for grants each spring and fall that support firefighting, search and rescue, emergency medical services, and trail and recreation safety in rural and mountain areas. Since the program began in 2023, the grant program has given out more than $6.5 million to local organizations.

Emergency services grants can be used for:

  • Capital Improvements
  • Education and Outreach
  • Equipment
  • Operations
  • Training

Two Grant Rounds Per Year

Boulder County holds two grant cycles every year. Fire protection districts can apply in the fall. Search and rescue and trail safety organizations can apply in the spring.

  • Fall – Open to fire protection districts serving mountain and rural communities in Boulder County
  • Spring – Open to search and rescue and trail and recreation safety organizations in Boulder County.

Awarded Grants by Agency or Category of Service

News and Updates

Staff Contact

Email Barb Halpin at ESgrants@bouldercounty.gov or call 720-564-2830

Get Information

Sign up to get emails or text messages about the Emergency Services Grant Program

The Emergency Services Sales and Use Tax was approved by voters in 2022 as County Issue 1B. The grant program has given out $6.5 million in emergency service grants since 2023.

Emergency Services Grant Program Advisory Committee

The Emergency Services Grant Program Advisory Committee (ESGPAC) is made up of county residents who have emergency services experience or support safe trails and recreation in Boulder County. The committee also includes members with trail accessibility and outdoor recreation outreach and marketing experience.

The committee gives grant funding recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners twice a year. Interested community members can apply for an open position on the committee in June and July. Open positions are listed on the advisory boards and committee vacancies webpage.

All Emergency Services Grants Awarded (2023-2026)

Awards by Services or Equipment

Services or Equipment
Total Amount
Capital Improvements
$1,241,776
Lifesaving Equipment, Training, & Outreach
$820,712
Person and Vehicle Rescue Support
$179,234
PPE and Firefighter Safety
$735,995
Radios and Communications
$1,986,853
Tech Rescue and Firefighting Equipment
$307,518
Vehicle Purchases and Upgrades
$1,258,853
Grand Total
$6,530,941

Awards by Organization

Type of Organization
Total Amount
Fire Protection Districts
$4,982,889
Search and Rescue Organizations
$1,398,182
Trail and Trailhead Safety/Recreation Groups
$149,870
Grand Total
$6,530,941

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Emergency Services Grants Awarded by Agency and Agency Type

Fire District Grants Awarded (2023-2025)

AgencyFunding PurposeGrant AmountCategoryYear
Allenspark Fire Protection DistrictFirefighter Safety and Operational Equipment
$54,620
PPE and Firefighter Safety2025
Boulder County Firefighters AssociationCountywide Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Training and Education
$147,125
Lifesaving Equipment, Training and Apps2025
Boulder County Sheriff's Office Fire ManagementALERTWest Cameras BOCO: Safer Communities Together
$65,780
Radios and Communications2025
Boulder Mountain Fire Protection DistrictFirefighter Safety and Operational Equipment
$220,612
PPE and Firefighter Safety2025
Boulder Rural Fire Protection DistrictWildland Firefighting Equipment for New Type 6 Engine
$47,910
Tech Rescue and Firefighting Equipment2025
City of LafayetteBoulder County Automatic Dispatching Technology
$141,634
Radios and Communications2025
Four Mile Fire Protection DistrictDeferred Replacement of Operational Equipment
$186,423
Vehicle Purchases and Upgrades2025
Gold Hill Fire Protection DistrictCapital Improvement Request, Firefighter Safety, and Operational Equipment
$85,800
Capital Improvements2025
Hygiene Fire Protection DistrictFunding Towards New Hygiene Fire Station Project
$195,380
Capital Improvements2025
Indian Peaks Fire Protection DistrictNew Brush Truck and Fire Station Improvements
$246,551
Vehicle Purchases and Upgrades2025
Lefthand Fire Protection DistrictSCBA Cylinder Replacement/Lucas CPR
$59,123
Lifesaving Equipment, Training and Apps2025
Louisville Fire Protection DistrictWildland Fire PPE and Technical Rescue Equipment
$81,857
PPE and Firefighter Safety2025
Lyons Fire Protection DistrictFirefighter Safety and Operational Equipment
$85,364
PPE and Firefighter Safety2025
Nederland Fire Protection DistLUCAS 3.1 & LifePak Request
$75,000
Lifesaving Equipment, Training and Apps2025
Pinewood Springs Fire Protection DistrictEV and Li-Ion Battery Emergency Response Tools
$1,950
Person and Vehicle Rescue Support2025
Sugar Loaf Fire Protection DistrictMobile Radios
$57,785
Radios and Communications2025
Sunshine Fire Protection DistrictBrush Truck Chassis Improvements
$150,000
Vehicle Purchases and Upgrades2025
Timberline Fire Protection DistrictStructural Firefighting Bunker Gear
$28,914
PPE and Firefighter Safety2025
Timberline Fire Protection DistrictAmbulance Services in TFPD's Boulder County Region
$20,000
Lifesaving Equipment, Training and Apps2025
Volunteer Fire Department of Big ElkUTV and Skid Attachment for Fire Patrol and Search and Rescue
$63,015
Vehicle Purchases and Upgrades2025
Boulder County Firefighters AssociationCounty Physician Advisor & Handtevy EMS Training Platform
$49,588
Lifesaving Equipment, Training & Apps2024
Boulder Fire RescueTechnical Rescue Equipment
$68,991
Tech Rescue & Firefighting Equipment2024
Boulder Rural Fire Protection DistrictCyclist/Pedestrian Extrication (Rescue) Equipment
$16,064
Tech Rescue & Firefighting Equipment2024
Four Mile Fire Protection DistrictPPE Replacement
$93,145
PPE & Firefighter Safety2024
Gold Hill Fire Protection DistrictEmergency Services Improvements
$150,660
Capital Improvements2024
Hygiene Fire Protection DistrictBunker Room Upgrades
$35,442
Capital Improvements2024
Indian Peaks Fire Protection DistrictMobile/Base Radio Upgrade & Emergency Responder Extrication Tools and Accessories
$155,100
Radios & Communications2024
Jamestown Fire DepartmentType 6 Brush Truck 4230
$202,000
Vehicle Purchases & Upgrades2024
Lefthand Fire Protection DistrictStructure Fire PPE
$115,283
PPE & Firefighter Safety2024
Lyons Fire Protection DistrictEMS Equipment
$108,500
Lifesaving Equipment, Training & Apps2024
Mountain View Fire Protection DistrictWildland UTV
$61,954
Vehicle Purchases & Upgrades2024
Nederland Fire Protection DistrictMobile Radios
$95,000
Vehicle Purchases & Upgrades2024
Sugar Loaf Fire Protection DistrictReplace a Type 6 Wildland Engine
$150,000
Vehicle Purchases & Upgrades2024
Boulder County Firefighter's AssociationUnified Agencies Radio Equipment Grant
$1,292,359
Radios & Communications2023
Gold Hill Fire Protection DistrictGold Hill 2023 Hose and life safety equipment Grant
$78,186
Tech Rescue & Firefighting Equipment2023
Hygiene Fire Protection DistrictHygiene Fire Bunker Gear
$56,200
PPE & Firefighter Safety2023
Indian Peaks Fire Protection DistrictIPFD LP15 Defibrillator
$36,297
Lifesaving Equipment, Training & Apps2023
Lafayette Fire DepartmentTechnical Rescue Equipment to be used regionally
$96,368
Tech Rescue & Firefighting Equipment2023
Sunshine Fire Protection DistrictApparatus improvements and capital/vehicle purchases
$103,910
Vehicle Purchases & Upgrades2023

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Search and Rescue and Trail Safety Grants Awarded (2024-2026)

AgencyFunding PurposeGrant AmountEquipment or ServicesType: Search and Rescue or Trail SafetyYear
Boulder Emergency Squad IncEssential Facility & Equipment Upgrades
$319,550
Capital ImprovementsSAR2025
City of LongmontEnhance Watershed Ranger Emergency Services Communications
$25,650
Radios and CommunicationsTS2025
Colorado 4x4 Rescue and RecoveryVolunteer Responder Mileage Reimbursement
$10,000
Person and Vehicle Rescue SupportSAR2025
Friends of Colorado Avalanche Information CenterTrailhead Avalanche Prevention and Safety Outreach Program (USFS Trailheads in Boulder County)
$7,368
Lifesaving Equipment, Training and OutreachTS2025
Rocky Mountain Rescue Group Inc (RMRG)Search and Rescue Operational and Communications Needs
$122,590
Person and Vehicle Rescue SupportSAR2025
Boulder County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (BCARES)Upgrades, Repairs, and Enhancements of Emergency Voice, Video, and Digital Communications.
$30,000
Radios and CommunicationsSAR2024
Boulder Emergency Squad (BES)Facility-Related Capital Upgrades or Replacements, Including a Roof Replacement and Other Facility Repairs; Dual-Band Radios and Repeater to Conform to Boulder County Communications Standards by 2028.
$454,944
Capital ImprovementsSAR2024
Boulder Mountainbike Alliance (BMA)BMA Bike Patrol & Wapiti Trail Safety First Aid Training and Equipment.
$8,105
Lifesaving Equipment, Training and OutreachTS2024
Bryan Mountain Nordic Ski Patrol (BMNSP)Enhancing Boulder County Trail Safety Through Updated Medical Equipment and Education Programs.
$50,521
Lifesaving Equipment, Training and OutreachTS2024
Colorado 4x4 Rescue and RecoveryAmount to Cover Personal Fuel and Vehicle Expenses Incurred by Volunteers When Performing Search and Rescue Activities and Vehicle Recoveries in Boulder County.
$10,000
Person and Vehicle Rescue SupportSAR2024
Front Range Rescue Dogs Inc (FRRD)Pagers, Dual-Band Radios, Dog Tracking Collars (with inReach Capabilities).
$34,694
Person and Vehicle Rescue SupportSAR2024
Indian Peaks Wilderness Alliance (IPWA)IPWA Trails/Trailhead Equipment Replacement Grant
$7,207
Radios and CommunicationsTS2024
Rocky Mountain Rescue Group, Inc. (RMRG)Dual-Band Radios to Meet Boulder County Communications Standards by 2028.
$126,232
Radios and CommunicationsSAR2024
Boulder Climbing CommunityMedical Training and Climbing Safety Equipment
$8,330
Lifesaving Equipment, Training and OutreachTS2026
Boulder County Mounted Search & RescueNew Radios To Replace Obsolete Radios, and Fire Extinguishers for Animal Evacuation Trailers.
$75,000
Radios and CommunicationsSAR2026
Boulder Emergency Squad (BES)Operational Readiness and Resilience Initiative
$113,248
Lifesaving Equipment, Training and OutreachSAR2026
Boulder Mountainbike Alliance, Inc.Volunteer First Aid Training For Trailhead Safety
$10,000
Lifesaving Equipment, Training and OutreachTS2026
Bryan Mountain Nordic Ski Patrol (BMNSP)Updated Training Resources and Equipment to Assist with Backcountry First Aid and Rescues
$14,845
Lifesaving Equipment, Training and OutreachTS2026
Friends of Colorado Avalanche Information CenterTrailhead Avalanche Prevention and Safety Outreach Program (USFS Trailheads in Boulder County)
$14,845
Lifesaving Equipment, Training and OutreachTS2026
Front Range Rescue Dogs Inc (FRRD)Update PSAR Materials and Hiking With Dogs Educational Video Series
$7,737
Lifesaving Equipment, Training and OutreachSAR2026
Indian Peaks Wilderness Alliance (IPWA)Trails/Trailhead 2026 Training and Radio Grant
$10,106
Radios and CommunicationsTS2026
Rocky Mountain Rescue Group, Inc. (RMRG)Upgraded Rope Systems, Rescue Hardware, and Radios To Improve Backcountry Search and Rescue Response
$90,924
Lifesaving Equipment, Training and OutreachSAR2026

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