Support Now Available for All County Residents in Managing the High-Risk Vegetation on Their Properties

Boulder County, Colo. - Boulder County has taken a significant leap forward in its commitment to community safety and environmental stewardship with its recent launch of the Wildfire Partners Community Chipping Program. The program supports all county residents with managing the high-risk vegetation on their properties, fostering a safer, cleaner, and more fire-resilient environment for all through proactive measures to reduce wildfire risk.

This county chipping program is free to all county residents, allowing adequate disposal of slash — green branches, and brush — in a safe and sustainable manner. This program is actively improving defensible space around properties and reducing the potential for fire to spread.

Since launching earlier this month, 40 applications have been approved, representing chipping events covering approximately 350 homes from all of Boulder County.

“Wildfire Partners couldn’t be more thrilled at the initial launch of this program. Residents have been waiting for a new Chipping Program, and our immediate response demonstrates just how fire-wise our County and communities are becoming,” said Boulder County Chipping Coordinator Zack Bertges. “In 2021, we had 378 homeowners signup for chipping services, so to nearly surpass this number in these first few weeks of the new program has been very exciting.”

In collaboration with local fire districts and approved chipping contractors, the county chipping program fosters community engagement and public awareness about wildfire prevention. This program also emphasizes collaboration among neighbors to establish neighborhood chipping events, where groups of five or more homeowners will work together to complete the chipping event in their community.

Funding for the Community Chipping Program is provided by the Wildfire Mitigation Sales Tax. The sales tax was approved by Boulder County voters in 2022 to fund work in two areas: Strategic Forest and Grassland Management, and Creating Community Resiliency. The Community Chipping Program is one of the first community programs to be funded by the Wildfire Mitigation Sales Tax.

Learn More and Apply

Learn more about the chipping program, eligibility criteria, and application and scheduling process. A minimum of five participating neighbors is required to host a community chipping event. At each community event, a county approved chipping contractor will provide the chipping services and haul the chips to a partnering donation site.

About Wildfire Partners

Wildfire Partners is a nationally recognized Boulder County program designed to help residents prepare for wildfires. Technical and financial assistance is available to residents of the county through custom wildfire mitigation assessments, grant funding, educational programs, community events, and a free chipping program.

For more information, contact Zack Bertges, Wildfire Partners Chipping Coordinator, at 303-678-6168 or zbertges@bouldercounty.gov.