Boulder County government offices will be closed at noon Dec. 31, and all day Jan. 1 for the New Year’s holiday.

Stage 1 Fire Restrictions in effect for unincorporated plains areas east of Highway 93 (South Foothills), Broadway, and US 36 (North Foothills)

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

Emergency Services Grant Program

The Search and Rescue and Trail Safety Grant Round Will Open Spring 2026.

The grant round for Search and Rescue and Trail Safety organizations will open sometime between late March and early May. Please check back for updates and sign up for message alerts (via email or SMS).

The Emergency Services Grant Program, funded by Boulder County’s Emergency Services Sales and Use Tax, awards grants each spring and fall to support search and rescue, emergency medical services, and trail safety in rural and mountain areas.

Grants can be applied toward:

  • Equipment and capital purchases and upgrades
  • Specialized training for emergency personnel
  • Operational enhancements to improve response capabilities
  • Infrastructure improvements to better support emergency services.

Semi-Annual Grant Rounds

Boulder County holds two grant cycles each year:* one for rural and mountain fire districts, and another for search and rescue organizations serving the county.

  • Spring – Search and Rescue and Trail/Recreation Safety Service Providers in Boulder County;
  • Fall – Fire Protection Districts Serving Mountain and Rural Boulder County communities.

*The schedule for grant rounds may change from year to year.

Awarded Grants by Agency or Category of Service

Staff Liaison

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

Stay Informed

Sign up to receive news and updates about the Emergency Services Grant Program

Approved by voters in 2022 as County Issue 1B, the Emergency Services Sales and Use Tax has funded $6 million in emergency service grants since 2023.

Emergency Services Grant Program Advisory Committee

The Emergency Services Grant Program Advisory Committee (ESGPAC) advises Boulder County on the grant program funded by the Emergency Services Sales and Use Tax, reviewing two grant cycles each year.

News and Updates

All Emergency Services Grants Awarded (2023-25)

Awards by Services or Equipment

Services or Equipment
Total Amount
Capital Improvements
$1,222,375
Lifesaving Equipment, Training and Apps
$674,971
Person and Vehicle Rescue Support
$179,234
PPE and Firefighter Safety
$612,550
Radios and Communications
$2,004,048
Tech Rescue and Firefighting Equipment
$374,014
Vehicle Purchases and Upgrades
$1,119,557
Grand Total
$6,186,750

Awards by Organization

Type of Organization
Total Amount
Fire Protection Districts
$4,979,888
Search and Rescue Organizations
$1,108,010
Trail and Trailhead Safety/Recreation Groups
$98,852
Grand Total
$6,186,750

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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 (2024-2025)

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 & CommunicationsTS2025
Colorado 4x4 Rescue and RecoveryVolunteer Responder Mileage Reimbursement
$10,000
Person & 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 & AppsTS2025
Rocky Mountain Rescue Group Inc (RMRG)Search and Rescue Operational and Communications Needs
$122,590
Person & Vehicle Rescue SupportSAR2025
Boulder County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (BCARES)Upgrades, Repairs, and Enhancements of Emergency Voice, Video, and Digital Communications.
$30,000
Radios & 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 & AppsTS2024
Bryan Mountain Nordic Ski Patrol (BMNSP)Enhancing Boulder County Trail Safety Through Updated Medical Equipment and Education Programs.
$50,521
Lifesaving Equipment, Training & AppsTS2024
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 & Vehicle Rescue SupportSAR2024
Front Range Rescue Dogs Inc (FRRD)Pagers, Dual-Band Radios, Dog Tracking Collars (with inReach Capabilities).
$34,694
Person & Vehicle Rescue SupportSAR2024
Indian Peaks Wilderness Alliance (IPWA)IPWA Trails/Trailhead Equipment Replacement Grant
$7,207
Radios & CommunicationsTS2024
Rocky Mountain Rescue Group, Inc. (RMRG)Dual-Band Radios to Meet Boulder County Communications Standards by 2028.
$126,232
Radios & CommunicationsSAR2024

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